PLEASE MEET KIRK & RUSS:
Kirk and Russ spent the night in a friend's tent along the freeway. They have nothing to their name, all was lost when their camp was swept.
No tent. No sleeping bag. No way to stay warm. Nothing.
Kirk graduated from Bothell High School in 2003, played football there, it was a big deal. His Junior & Senior year they were KingCo Champs. In 2003 they went 11-1 making it to the state quarterfinals.
Kirk brightens up sharing about those times. He breaks into a big smile and says, "Yeah, I always slept with my football through those years." I asked if he wanted a football now and if he would still sleep with it? "Heck yeah!" He replies, "I would love that!"
Russ moved to Seattle from Los Angeles a year and a half ago. He worked as an EMT because he loves helping people. He pauses, then shares, "Unfortunately, that is all gone now."
Standing with Kirk and Russ I'm struck with how comfortable they are, how real and aware they are, how smart they are, and because of all that, how beautiful they are.
As they both tell how drugs have robbed them, how powerless they feel to get out of it, a big heavy blanket of sadness falls over the conversation.
I'm hoping this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship between them and all of you. I'm hoping&hoping&hoping for that, believing it will lead to a path out of addiction. A path created by the extensive knowledge and endless compassion of this community and the inner strength and beauty of both Kirk and Russ.
They could both use sleeping bags and a good 4-6 person tent. Russ needs a warm coat - size L, shirts - size L, and boots - size 11. Kirk needs a warm coat - size XL.
I asked what would bring a smile to their face. Russ said a guitar and Kirk said a football. Now I was smiling.
If you can help, please dropOFF or sentTO: Facing Homelessness c/o Kirk or Russ 4001 9th Ave NE, Seattle WA 98105. A heartfelt THANK YOU!!
International District 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 Crosscut
somethingMORE
PLEASE MEET JOSHUA:
Joshua is 45 years old. He's a good looking man with a really good smile and very kind eyes. You might have seen him, he holds a sign that reads "FOOD Please".
He also looks able bodied. On your way to work you might have thought he should get a job or maybe you've wondered if he's running some sort of scam, gettin by free.
The problem with those thoughts, is that there is something more going on for every person living outside than the two-second snap judgment we make. A lot more going on.
Joshua never had a stable home, he went to 30 schools. His step-father physically and sexually abused him his entire childhood till he was kicked to the streets at 17 years old.
He'll tell you that nobody taught him how to act, how to be a man. Out on the streets he fell into drugs. His life spiraled out of control till somebody told him to hitchhike to the Grateful Dead concert, which he did, and it saved his life. For years he followed them around the country, the song lyrics becoming his education and the Deadheads his family.
After Jerry Garcia's death he followed other bands for awhile, eventually ending up in NY City, eventually being with a woman that helped him find his sobriety. His last drink was on September 7, 2013.
He says, "Since that day I've been making better and better choices, one of which was moving to Seattle." Joshua is now enrolled in computer classes at Goodwill with a hope to go to college. With Richard's help at the Seattle's Union Gospel Mission he found a place to live at Compass Housing Alliance!
If you would like to help Joshua further he could really use the following: Hiking boots that are water-resistant, size 11; winter coat with a hood that is water-resistant, size 2XL; large size backpack that he can go back and forth to school with. Please dropOFF or shipTO: Facing Homelessness c/o Joshua 4001 9th Ave NE, Seattle WA 98105.
Joshua will tell you that his homelessness and then spiral into drugs was a direct result of the abusive childhood he suffered through. Taking drugs was a way for him to cope and quiet the memories that play over and over in his head. Being sober has brought challenges, "It's really hard with my PTSD memories, sometimes I want to give up. Talking and sharing about it helps me, it is a form of therapy." Then he sincerely thanked me and all of you for listening.
Downtown 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