goodPEOPLE

PLEASE MEET AL AND DARLENE:

Al and Darlene are good people going through bad times, about to have the water shut off which will trigger losing their rented home.

It's complicated. Darlene has two kids, came to Seattle 6 yrs ago from Florida with a husband that turned abusive. They divorced. She met Al three years ago and are now engaged. I asked Al if he loves her, he turned to Darlene, said, "Very much." I asked Darlene the same, she answered, "I picked a winner. I'm in love for the first time in my life."

Things turned sideways when Darlene became sick with a fibrous tumor, bleeding out, almost died. Two emergency blood transfusions saved her but also triggered an autoimmune issue. She's getting better but on some days has a hard time even turning the door knob. She said, "For over a year I wouldn't leave the house, but Al kept encouraging me and now I can go out on errands."

Darlene will tell you that Al can build anything, even a race car if she wanted one. Unfortunately Al has had his own recent struggle with employment and his health. The man he was doing drywall for closed his business and moved to California. At the same time his truck's engine blew. All of this on top of worry about Al's pre-cancer in his throat.

Darlene and Al are swimming in a sea of worry. I can't imagine the anxiety they and Darlene's children are living with. They owe $2,200 on their Water/Sewer bill. I am hoping we can give these two fine people some help and hope.

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=25J2YJSD3D26E&source=url

If anyone is interested, Al would be happy to work for funds donated. As Darlene says, "He can build anything!"

It was such a pleasure meeting you Darlene and Al, you are so very beautiful together!

Bitter Lake 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 #JustSayHello #FacingHomelessness Crosscut KING 5 The Seattle Times

braveSOUL

PLEASE MEET AL:

Several weeks ago, Al woke up to the smell of thick black smoke in his nostrils. He woke to find that their structure under the bridge was indeed on fire! He ran to get the help of a friend, Joos, who ran to the burning structure. He bravely went inside where his friend Wolf remained asleep even though the walls were ablaze around him.

"Joos saved me." Wolf told me. "No, Al saved you by asking for help", Joos corrected him. Wolf told me that although Joos was soft-spoken, he can be very loud when it was needed. "I've never heard you use that voice before." They laughed.

Joos said he threw water on the fire, but it only made it grow. Several structures and tents were burned completely. It is uncertain what started the fire.

Al lost everything including his ID, bus passes, all of his clothes. He lost his winter work boots, his cook stove, his headlamp, all of his pants and sweatpants. Wolf was thankful he still had his wallet, and his cool leather jacket.

The three of them seemed to have a comradery brought closer by the experience. "It was a good place for us, a place to come together and share a laugh even in hard times." Al told me. "It will be missed."

Beacon Hill Neighborhood | Dawndra

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!
#JustSayHello #FacingHomelessness #Kindness