What a great night for exploring the shadows in Detroit!
We had a new helper this week. He is the friend of our other newest volunteer. This new helper just got off the streets himself. He is a wounded military veteran who was living under bridges. Our volunteer got him connected with VA and housing.
We were busy packing up new hygiene kits. I asked him about our kits. Were they useful? He said they were excellent. Everything was useful, and necessary. Giant bottles of shampoo did nothing for him unless it was a rainy day. Our kits are very well thought out. That made me feel proud.
In honor of the Pistons, I made homemade Beef Stew. I had delicious peanut butter cookies and some other rando snacks to put with it.
This week, our first stop was the lady under the bridge. She uses propane to keep warm. Not every panhandler buys drugs with the money.
Traci and I carried food and hygiene bags through a wooded area beside the highway. The first tent we came past was empty. We kept trekking through area finding more evidence of human life as we walked.. The pitch of the hill next to the highway was very steep. The trail we leveraged was only a few inches wide. It was a bike path. I would have been too scared to ride a bike right there on a tiny track next to a bust freeway. But it looked like it was well-traveled, so someone does. Yikes!
We got to her tent, and she was so grateful to see us. Her area is neat, organized, well=kept. I saw a bike parked next to the fort she had put together. She’s a brave little woman surviving out there.
We went to a couple more places where we had seen tents, but no one was inside.
We went to Ms. GGs. At least 10 or 12 people poured out of there. Everyone was so sweet and grateful. Nick and Traci were amazing at helping people.
Ms. GG didn’t come out. I haven’t asked for her yet. I hope it’s because she found a real place to live.
We drove out to a shady hotel. There was a lady standing outside wearing pajamas. The caravan pulled over and she didn’t move. I got her some food, hygiene, flashlight, and pepper spray. I walked it up to her. She was hungry and happy about the pepper spray. I could tell she was absolutely suffering from mental illness. But at least she is fed, warm, and safer than I found her.
The next homeless lady we helped was overjoyed that we had found her. She complimented my bright red hair. She told me, “That hair fits you. I’m not just saying that because you gave me stuff either! I tell the truth!”
What a sweetheart!
We hit a couple more places on the east side. One was for just one lady who needed everything. I thought she was going to cry when Traci took her back to get new coat.
The last spot was a swarm of people. We pulled up next to an old, abandoned brick house. People trickled out from every shadow. Honestly, it was kind of scary. Mostly just creepy. It was a new place. New people.
We got out of the van, and the three of us covered our stations. Nick passed out hygiene and blankets. I passed out meals. Traci covered the chaos that is clothes. They were so grateful. So many praises to God that they were cared for that night. I hope we come back.
Which only proves:
The path of God
will never lead you
where the grace of God
cannot keep you.
Because that’s how we do it in Detroit.
Amen.
