Give The Guy A Bath!

I asked my buddy, “Willie, if you had a thousand bucks, what would you do with it?”

He replied, “I’d get myself a bath!”

He laughed. I smiled. After a thoughtful pause, Willie added, “And, I’d sleep in a bed.”

I thought to myself, “Gee Wiz Willie! You get a check, you could get a room, take a shower, sleep in a hotel bed.”

Then, I imagined to myself that Willie’s been booted from most hotels in the area and if he even could get a room, he’d need someone to help him with keys and sheets and shower curtians. He’d need to have a clean change of rags and someone to get him food. He’d need some REAL hospital-type care.

I realized to myself that Willie can’t stand in a shower. Willie can’t take a conventional bath. Willie needs some professional care like foot rubs and haircuts and comfortable beds; just like an athlete needs professional equipment and trainers and purposeful activity called ‘practice’ to be the BEST! Or, just like you or me can probably go home tonight and take a clean bath and feel safe and secure.

Then, I wished to myself … I wished I had the knowledge or the means or the friends that could HELP Willie get cleaned up and rested.

I wondered to myself if I just took Willie to a hospital and explained his need and pleaded our case, if they would take Willie for just a couple of days and treat him with the kind of kind-care he needs and deserves right now. Nah. They’d probably keep him and tape him to a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

And then I knew in myself that the solution to Willie’s need was bigger than the “I” and “myself” that I was thinking.

So … I’m asking you and yourself right now, for Willie.

I’m asking you and your friends to present ideas and offer solutions and give contributions to INDIVIDUALS who you know that really help guys like Willie get what they need THIS day and EVERY day ... no matter the SEASON! Give the BEST of yourSELF that you can afford to give.

Whew … I’ll better quit writing this, and get mySELF out to the streets to see if I can find Willie …

And Give The Guy A Bath!

Kelly

Helping the Homeless

I get to spend a lot of time alone, doing what I do.

I’m alone when I walk the tracks, searching for friends in jungle camps. I’m alone when I drive to and fro across the city to crews on the North, West and Southeast sides of town. I’m alone when I’m parked on some side street to make sandwiches in the back of my van.

I take the responsiblity of serving food to my homeless friends seriously. I buy fresh ingredients to prepare daily; I work in a safe, clean environment; and I only prepare what I would eat myself. Afterall, I'm serving The King. Besides, I eat sandwiches most everyday.



Every week, I pick up boxes of chips and snacks from a local distributor to pass along to food shelves, drop-in centers and my homeless friends.



Local churches collect clothing from youth groups and individual members that I share with my friends who need a change of rags.


I get cases of ‘dollar store surplus’ cookies and friends help me pass these along to food shelves and old folks homes. I make smaller, ‘snack-size’ bags of cookies to put in bag lunches for my friends.



When people ask me what the homeless need, I try to explain all the hurts and wants and hopes that I see everyday on the streets. I try to explain their need for family ... and friends.

And then, I just give them this picture and say, “We always need stuff like this.”

Then I say, "Thank you, friend ... for asking."

Kelly