Many thanks to Kory Wilson, Jordan Hilker, and Mandie Juul for helping out with the Brigids Cloak - Spokane Homeless Outreach run last night. We started prepping for the run at about 7pm last night, putting together snack packs, cough and cold packs, dental kits, and feminine hygiene kits; pairing socks, gloves, and hand warmers; making coffee, hot chocolate and sandwiches; and cutting tags off and filling bins with tote bags, scarves, hats, bottled water, deodorant, books, and more. Prep went very quickly with so many hands to help. We loaded the car and arrived downtown about 9pm. Our first encounter was with a guy named Randy who seemed surprised but happy at our offer of food and a hot mocha. He was spotted walking rather briskly, with a backpack strapped to his shoulders. Sometimes folks who look like this are students or workers going home at night, but we roll down the window and ask if theyd like a hot cup of coffee on the off-chance that they are out on the street all night long. Sometimes well get a response like nah, Im headed home or do I LOOK homeless? but sometimes, like last night with Randy, we come across someone who really does need and appreciates it. Our next encounter was with a gal named Jerri who was walking with a blanket wrapped around her to stay warm. She explained to us that she was newly homeless, that four days ago she had lost everything. We dont pry for more details with these folks, if they want to share their stories we are there to listen, but we also respect their privacy. She was grateful for the supplies and especially the resource list we had with numbers for various local agencies that can help with food, housing, legal, medical assistance, and more. The next stop was for two people already tucked in for the night in their sleeping bags. When we come across folks like this, we try to be as quiet and discreet as possible, and leave them useful stuff like bottled water, snack packs, and hand warmers. If they are awake and want more, thats fine, but if not then we just leave them a few things they might find useful when they wake up. Our fourth and last stop for the night was originally for a handful of people sitting on the curb with bedrolls and bags piled around them. That turned into about two dozen people who spotted us and came over to see what we had to give out. People looked through our books and selected westerns, fantasy, nonfiction humor and inspirational, and some suspense/mystery. Jimbo was there and excited that I had brought along a Louis Lamour western just for him. He told everyone else that I had made him famous by having his picture taken and put in the Inlander. (That was actually Leah Sottile Preston and other Inlander staff who did that back in January, but it was nice to see that it still made Jimbo happy to have been recognized that way.) He introduced me to his sister and I smile at her as I pass her a cup of hot chocolate. I wonder if she is his chosen sister or sister by blood. But it really doesnt matter, does it? On the street, everyone who chooses to band together for safety and support is family, regardless of DNA. We gave out a lot of resource lists and info sheets for the no sit/lie ordinance. The sheets I hand out now are double-sided. One side has the entire ordinance so they can read it for themselves and know their rights, as well as some reasons why the ordinance should be protested. The other side declares that they are protesting the ordinance (which in effect makes them exempt from enforcement) and will report any police harassment to the ombudsman, with the contact info for Tim Burns. I explained to them that Ive heard the police are now telling individuals are protesting sit/lie that they have to be part of a group or organized protest event in order to be exempt, and I point out thats not true. There is nothing in the ordinance that says individuals protesting are not exempt. I encourage them to know their rights and pass the info along. Some of the folks take multiple copies to share with others. At this one stop, we gave out all of our food and beverages, as well as most of our other supplies. We gave out a lot of smiles and received several in return. I am so grateful for Mandies organizational skills that made it easier to pass things out, and Kory and Jordans kindness and easy manner in which they just jumped right in and started helping people in any way they could. No judgement. No criticism. Just open and acting from the heart, finding connections in our shared states of being human.
Posted on: Sat, 18 Oct 2014 17:45:48 +0000
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