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at the heart of what we do |
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| keeping people in contact |
Oct. 15, 2007 |
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Dear Friends,
Digging into his pocket he pulled out this little black book, said it was his last resort to find someone at home. I'd already punched in all the numbers he could remember... with no response... from Vegas to Baltimore... there was no one home, wrong numbers or no longer in service. Getting desperate, he started to reach to fringes of his connections and confessed it'd been months since he'd talked with any family, that he'd "smoked through money for three phones his mother had sent him," now we reached out around the nation without success. He sat down with a friend, refused to go through line for a meal, and one can only wonder what might have been going through his mind. It's hard to imagine a lonelier spot than being on skid row with no connection home. It's the reality of so many we serve.
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Wanted and Dangerous |
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Clicking pictures with my cell phone still elicits the occasional protest and turning away. I've learned to respond with fun answers when people ask why I want their picture- these two guys - both regulars, walking through line stepped forward- one wanting his picture taken- the other not - the guy in back asked why I wanted it? I said it was for the post office, where it would be titled "Armed and Dangerous." Busting up, pointing at each other, they argued over who was "armed" and who was "dangerous." I snapped the shot. Each of us are humbled by the trust given us as we serve together. Many of the homeless feel like they're exploited for fundraising by big missions with big budgets. Needless to say, we're way under the radar when it comes to property holdings and big budgets. We'd be happy to replace our stolen trailer... which apparently we had insured for liability only... ouch! These two guys, along with a large number of other men, had a number of ideas on how to replace our missing member. Don't think I'll use any of them.
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A Growing Need |
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Stretching down Main Street, the line, much longer than usual for middle of the month, seemed to go on forever. Thousands of people live on the streets in the tiny heart of the city known as skidrow, tens of thousands more are homeless across Los Angeles. Last night two older guys drove up in cars- one unable to even get out of his car because of a bad leg, asked if we could serve him, no problem. Every homeless person will become a senior citizen: no retirement, no family structure to care for them... many in our line already are seniors. Often living alone in skid row room rentals or on the streets, they push themselves out into the night and wait in our long line for a meal. They're not going away. Many depend on us for their primary moment of social interaction, a hot meal to get their week started right, a few words with a friend. The face of homelessness is just not that of a junkie, a criminal or a psychological disorder... more often than not it's someone who was among the working poor, just a missed paycheck away from poverty, who faced the end of their working life and somehow missed out on "the dream." The line only gets bigger. The need continues to grow as young men and women fall into the dark pit of poverty for more reasons than there are people in our line. If there's one lesson we've learned over the years, it's this: could have been one of us. There but for the grace of God... please keep the poor in your prayers today.
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Simple Gifts |
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Socks from Big Lots were the big hit Sunday night. You'd have thought Bart and his team were handing out $20- bills when they started giving each person a new pair of white sport socks. Leslie, pictured to the left, had spotted them on sale and bought a bunch for the streets. Leslie's new to our work and in the last few months has become a valued member of the team- always smiling, quick to laugh and a hard worker behind the table. Her sock purchase probably didn't break her bank account... but it did require her to carry the needs of the people we serve away from Sunday night. When we forget the impoverished, we relegate them to the darkness and neglect of a society without compassion or heart. Getting to know people fighting to survive, to take a step up, looking for a hand up... not just another hand out, is more than a cliche. It's about a simple change in us- so many times reflected in simple gifts that meet simple needs. New white socks protect wet cold feet after our first real rain of the year. Feet that get neglected by people who wander, walk, stand all day... rain and shine... with no where to shower, no where to do laundry, no new socks. It's hard on the feet... and when the feet get sick it's hard to stand another day. Because of you, your loving prayer, concern, stops at Big Lots and continued financial support, men and women fighting poverty will stand another week. They know you're needed... I hope you know you're needed, now, more than ever. We're going to the streets this Sunday night, maybe we'll have a new trailer, why not join us? You're invited. The best change that happens at Jackets for Jesus happens in us. It can happen in you.
for changing lives,
Eric
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Jackets for Jesus | 5623 Arlington Ave | Riverside | CA | 92504 |
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