Dear friends,
It’s been pouring outside on a Tuesday morning, and I am thinking of my homeless friends camping out in the woods within a mile from my house. The tent leaks, the sleeping bag is soggy -- that is if you are lucky enough to have one and it doesn't get stolen. Just another day in the life. One day you have a job, you get sick and can’t work, you can’t pay the rent, and you’re out on the street with all of your possessions thrown unceremoniously in the dumpster. So you live in the suburbs, yeah, but it’s hidden in a thick patch of scrub off the side of the road, where no one can see. Invisible. Or, if you’re lucky, you might get some financial assistance to get a room in a motel where many of the other guests don’t have a permanent address to call their own. That’s what you and your kids call home, and it sure beats the rain.
A warm meal and a bit of congenial fellowship make a
big difference. That’s what my daughter
thinks, anyway. She’s 24 and pregnant, with a
huge heart of love for the homeless.
That’s why several times a year she organizes some sort of
outreach, along with her husband and a team from Metro Life Church.
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| Ana, Betty, Ruthe |
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| Most of the volunteers were there to mingle. A friendly conversation is a huge deal. |
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| My food contribution: star-shaped pumpkin muffins and bags of sugar-free cookies. |
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| My little girl was very eager to help serve the bread! |
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| Artisan rolls! |
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| A full plate, a full heart |
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| Another daughter at the craft table |
My 10 year old son rocks at the color loop bracelet
making -- check out the collection on his wrist! I figured the color loop kids would be a hit,
since it’s the fad at his elementary school, and sure enough, the 900 loops
went fast with a cluster of kids at the table.
So did the 30 gift bags with crayons and candy and other little things
for boys and girls. My kids had a blast filling the cart at the dollar store and then packing the bags assembly line style before church on Sunday.
It was this dear lady's birthday, and the dry sleeping bags and towel,
a warm hoodie, a first aid kit, and a bunch of new friends singing “Happy Birthday” meant
all the world to her. She had lots of hugs and smiles for me because she knows God is
taking care of her, even in the tough times. She got some extra takeout boxes filled with
food for her other friends who hadn't come. God bless her, such a sweet lady. I hope I’ll see her again next month. I
hope by then she'll have a better place to live.What can you do for those who need a little boost this holiday season? Check out these links on my blogs:
- Homeless Outreach in
Downtown Orlando
- Homeless (Advocating
for the Vulnerable)
- A Note Wedged into the Window on My Van (and The Jesus Poem)
- Food, Health, Jobs, and
Family Crisis Assistance Resources in Central Florida
-
- Gathering Gifts for the
Poor
- Scriptures on Food & Compassion
- Colors of Hope for a
Happy New Year!
Two more web sites for those in the Orlando area:
You might also like to listen to Brandon Heath sing "Give Me Your Eyes."
For beauty and justice,
Virginia Knowles
www.VirginiaKnowles.blogspot.com
This post may be linked at these blogs:
Still Saturday
The Sunday Community
Raising Homemakers on Wednesday
Whole-Hearted Home on Wednesday
Wise Woman Link Up on Wednesday
Walking Redeemed on Wednesday
For beauty and justice,
Virginia Knowles
www.VirginiaKnowles.blogspot.com
This post may be linked at these blogs:
