gentleSOUL

PLEASE MEET TREVOR: 

Trevor is 42 years old, has been homeless for 12 years now. He grew up in Woodinville, as my wife did. In fact he knows lots of the same places she does. Made me smile.

It's beautiful how even the slightest shared experience with someone makes for a connection. I don't know why, but just knowing he grew up in the same neighborhood as my wife, walking the same path, brings me closer to him.

The stress of living on the street, navigating the survival line, brings out the best and sometimes the worst in people. I've known Trevor now for about 5 or so years. I've seen him suffer through some horrible times. Through all of it he holds his dignity with a constant humbleness. He is indeed a gentle soul.

Right now Trevor has ulcerated sores on his legs that are about 5" in diameter. He has a hard time walking because of it. He visits the 45th Street Clinic in Wallingford every week to have them cleaned and re-dressed. He's exhausted.

I am hoping we can get 2-nights stay in a hotel for Trevor, I know it would make a world of difference for his spirit.

UPDATE: The Paypal link has been pulled in that the goal of raising $200 has been met with $1,008.20 raised, wowWOW!!! This will allow Trevor at least a week inside! A heartfelt THANKS to everyone that supported and showed kindness. No funds go directly to Trevor and no funds go to Facing Homelessness.

I am sorry you are going through so much Trevor, I hope you know what a good man you are and how much LOVE this community has for you.

Wallingford 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

givingTHANKS

PLEASE MEET MATTHEW:

With open overflowing hearts, the Facing Homelessness Board and Staff want to simply say - THANK YOU!

There are endless acts of kindness that go on in this city every single day, one after another. Often they go unseen, but they make a difference. These moments hold us together.

We all know people like that, we can all name who they are in our lives. For me, Matthew Shea is one of those exceptionally kind people. I find him to be simply remarkable!

He was a big-time-chef in NYC before falling into homelessness here in Seattle. Despite his own struggles, he would cook a weekly fancy meal at Gas Works Park for those living without shelter. He gathered food at the Food Bank and asked others to donate when they could, somehow all coming together as a feast!

A heartfelt THANKS to everyone that makes a difference for sharing KINDNESS in our community.

If you are looking for a place to celebrate THANKSGIVING, come out to the 4th Annual Thanksgiving Meal at the Gift of Grace Church in Wallingford. Matthew will be the chef with Power of WE supporting him!

Time: Thursday November 28th from noon to 3pm
Location: Gift of Grace Church in Wallingford
2102 N 40th St, Seattle, WA 98103 (In the basement)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to this big beautiful community!

Wallingford 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

watchOUT

PLEASE MEET TREVOR

"So much time has passed. I tell people falling into homelessness to watch out, that suddenly you'll look back and years have gone. I've been homeless now for over 12 years."

Trevor is a gentle soft spoken man. His smile and calm way hide an ocean of suffering. His life is sleeping in doorways and parks, finding cover where he can, living with nothing. He wants to get into housing.

Emotionally he's tired, physically he's exhausted. Ulcers cover his legs. Beyond the pain, which he describes as someone constantly putting a cigarette out on his legs, there is a deep sadness in the way he feels he's treated. He talks about the humiliation of homelessness.

On Methadone for over a year, Trevor shares there is no pleasure in it. He stays on it so he can endure the chronic pain.

To make matters worse, Trevor has body-lice. He needs to use the shampoo treatment and get new clothes - pants 34Wx36L, shirts L, warm coat XL, shoes 15, underpants, socks, and sleeping bag.

Please dropOFF or shipTO: Facing Homelessness c/o Trevor 4001 9th Ave NE, Seattle WA 98105. THANKS so much.

We'd also like to raise $300.00 for 3-nights hotel stay so Trevor can use the lice treatment, shower, and find some peace and quiet.

UPDATE: We've pulled the Paypal link because our goal of raising $300 has been reached with $1,264.89 donated, wowWOW!!! I told Trevor this morning and he was overcome with gratitude, shocked by the extreme kindness. A heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone!!! Funds will be used to purchase hotel stay and needed treatment shampoo. No funds go directly to Trevor and as is always the case, no funds go to Facing Homelessness. If there are left over funds for any reason they will go to someone in a like condition. LOVE.

Just as Trevor was leaving he said, "Hey, Dzy wanted to say hello." I smiled, I told him I love Dzy, that he's such a good man. Trevor nodded, "Relationships are so important to us living homeless."

Wallingford 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!
#JustSayHello #FacingHomelessnes #Kindness Crosscut

warmthSAFETY

PLEASE MEET DZY:

I've seen what it looks like for Dzy to live through numerous winters in a tent, makes my heart hurt for him, the hurt getting worse over the years, as our friendship got closer and his beauty of person clearer.

Three days ago Dzy went from living in a tent to living in a van. A world of difference just in warmth and safety. A big beautiful heartfelt THANK YOU Lydia, Kristen and Landon for your kindness!

To hear about their genuine KINDNESS, please read the post before this one, it will make your heart sing!

New tabs and change of ownership cost $233.50. Hoping this community can help cover the cost. Thank you so much.

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=ZWCCLH9QCDJ3A&source=url

There are over 12,000 people experiencing homelessness in King County. That should make all of us stop in our tracks and ask, what are we making more important than each other.

Here is part of what Lydia said in the previous post, it is worth taking to heart. "We come from the Suquamish tribal community and an important part of our culture is the potlatch. Potlatch is a ceremony where we share our abundance with our community, our neighbors, our family and friends. In our Coast Salish tribal way, wealth is shown by what you give, not by what your keep for yourself. Being good hosts in our traditional lands is one of our cultural values and that's why it's important for my community to give back to those experiencing homelessness. Our tribal communities know what it is like to live in poverty and we want to lift up our most vulnerable neighbors and show them that they're loved."

I want to live in a world where we make people more important than things. We can do this. We can just begin with the person next to us, and then, the next person, and the next.

Wallingford 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 #ChiefSeattleClub Chief Seattle Club