PLEASE MEET JAMES:
Many of you know James from his over 20 years at the Montlake 520 exit off-ramp, asking for help with outstretched cupped hands and a rocking forward motion.
James has been homeless since his teens. He's illiterate. He survives day to day by donations from kind folks at the traffic light. At night he lives under the concrete exit ramp.
Many people are afraid of James. His appearance and mannerisms can have you looking the other way, reaching to adjust something on the dashboard or arranging stuff in the passenger seat while waiting for the light to change.
James is a beautiful person that is simply trying to survive. While many turn away, there are also many who reach out to James with kindness and solutions. Like Blair Jordan who is trying to get him into housing right now. It is difficult, homelessness is all James knows.
On January 7th James turns 54 years old. For the last five years we have been asking folks to send love and support in the form of Birthday Cards on his birthday, wowWOW!!
Usually James gets around 50 or so cards. One year he received 101, it was a big deal for him. We take the time to read each card out-loud with the process beginning by announcing where it is from. Makes me smile to remember how big he smiles when it comes from far away, like from out of state or even out of country!!!
Please mail James a Birthday Card telling him how beautiful he is, telling him how much you care about him. If you want to include a $5 bill, it will make him smile even more!
Mail cards to: Facing Homelessness c/o James 4001 9th Ave NE Seattle, WA 98105. Best to send early so we can visit him with them all on his actual BIRTHDAY!!!!
Heartfelt LOVE to all those that give James kindness day to day throughout the year. We are all one. :)
Montlake neighborhood | Rex
A QUIET THOUGHT - If you're moved by the goodness of this community, please visit http://www.facinghomelessness.org/ and click on the 'donate' button and consider a "monthly recurring" donation of just $5 in support of the work. THANK YOU!
#Kindness #FacingHomelessness #JustSayHello