We had a big group of volunteers tonight. In addition to me, Barb, Brent, Michelle, Mike, Sandy H, Sandy M, and Tammy were all helping out. The temperature was in the 80s. It threatened to rain early but then cleared and became sunny and hot, I suspect pushing 90 in the parking lot where we were located. The occasional breeze was very welcome. It was wonderful to have some many volunteers, but the down side was that I didn't get to hear as many stories and therefore have less to write about. All-in-all that's a good problem to have and I hope we continue to have many volunteers when winter arrives.
It was a busy evening. We handed out 44 bags of food, and, since several people wanted only water, we helped 50 people tonight, perhaps more. We gave out extra water bottles to many. There were more children visiting us than any night I can recall. One woman with two young children was new in town--Barb and Sandy H wrote her out a list of places to visit to get help. There were also many familiar faces. YG stopped by. Thanks to another agency he has housing, at least for the time being, and is still looking for a job. CT and his girlfriend also visited. (I finally learned her name--I'll call here BK here from now on.) Both of them were down with some sort of bug that they said was spreading around the shelter. We gave them extra water and they headed across the street to sit in the shade and wait for the shelter to open. Our friend who has been living by the river also came by. He was looking very tan but said the mosquitoes finally got to him, and he had lost access to the shower facility he had been using, so he was returning to the shelter after more than a month away. TM came by on his bike. We hardly recognized him. He had a new haircut and looked great. He has been staying sober and has a new job operating industrial saws in Osseo. I think we all felt better after seeing him--he has a great attitude and lifts the spirits of others in his gentle, quiet way. Our philosophical friend who works at the car wash also came by but I didn't get a chance to talk with him. Toward the end of the evening we were visited by a white supremacist, who has the racist skinhead numbers "14/88" tattooed on his face. He has threatened many in our street congregation. Tonight he left us immediately without a confrontation.
I've mentioned only a fraction of our visitors. Most stayed only for a minute or two to pick up food and water, but some spent time with us and talked. A few gave us requests for certain sizes of shoes or clothing. We wrapped up at 7, about an hour and 15 minutes after I arrived.
Please offer special prayers for all the homeless children; there are many here in Eau Claire.
Please pray for, and care for, the poor.
George
It was a busy evening. We handed out 44 bags of food, and, since several people wanted only water, we helped 50 people tonight, perhaps more. We gave out extra water bottles to many. There were more children visiting us than any night I can recall. One woman with two young children was new in town--Barb and Sandy H wrote her out a list of places to visit to get help. There were also many familiar faces. YG stopped by. Thanks to another agency he has housing, at least for the time being, and is still looking for a job. CT and his girlfriend also visited. (I finally learned her name--I'll call here BK here from now on.) Both of them were down with some sort of bug that they said was spreading around the shelter. We gave them extra water and they headed across the street to sit in the shade and wait for the shelter to open. Our friend who has been living by the river also came by. He was looking very tan but said the mosquitoes finally got to him, and he had lost access to the shower facility he had been using, so he was returning to the shelter after more than a month away. TM came by on his bike. We hardly recognized him. He had a new haircut and looked great. He has been staying sober and has a new job operating industrial saws in Osseo. I think we all felt better after seeing him--he has a great attitude and lifts the spirits of others in his gentle, quiet way. Our philosophical friend who works at the car wash also came by but I didn't get a chance to talk with him. Toward the end of the evening we were visited by a white supremacist, who has the racist skinhead numbers "14/88" tattooed on his face. He has threatened many in our street congregation. Tonight he left us immediately without a confrontation.
I've mentioned only a fraction of our visitors. Most stayed only for a minute or two to pick up food and water, but some spent time with us and talked. A few gave us requests for certain sizes of shoes or clothing. We wrapped up at 7, about an hour and 15 minutes after I arrived.
Please offer special prayers for all the homeless children; there are many here in Eau Claire.
Please pray for, and care for, the poor.
George