Homeless for the holidays (& how to help)
There’s never a good time to be homeless or close to it. Of course, some times are worse than others. The weather plays a role but also, homelessness can have a more emotional impact when we get to the holiday season.
This time of year, we’re all virtually expected to be happy and surrounded by loved ones. As I enter the eighth holiday season of my project, I know how such unfair expectations can bring a vulnerable soul to a very dark place.
Therefore, I do my best to be as positive a presence as possible. I’ll give you one example that some of you may have heard before:
B lost both her legs in a subway accident. When I met her, she was living in a medical homeless shelter and panhandling daily in a wheelchair. B has four kids who, for a while, were living with her ex. It was not a good scenario. Very long story short: The State eventually took the kids away from him and temporarily placed them with B’s mother.
As I got to know B, I genuinely cared for her as a friend. We both looked forward to chatting whenever I’d bring packages full of supplies geared to fit her specific needs. I bore witness to B’s journey and encouraged her as she dealt with mean-spirited passers-by (some actually screamed for her to “get a job”) and with a mountain of obstacles, e.g. housing, child services, medical bureaucracy, lawyers, etc.
One year, just before the holidays, B learned she was finally going to get housing in upstate New York and (wait for it) get her kids back! She was so excited to have Christmas with all of them for the first time in many years
I knew I had to do something special to commemorate B’s holiday reunion with her kids and to say goodbye. So, I rallied the support of some online donors and friends to raise money for gift certificates. After ensuring that all the establishments — including an art supplies store for B’s oldest, who dreamed of becoming an artist — were wheelchair accessible, I proudly presented the donations to B.
She opened the envelope, saw nearly $200 in gift cards, and burst into tears — waving me in for a hug. We stayed that way, both of us weeping, for quite a while as the Union Square crowds rushed past us.
B whispered to me, over and over, “You’re my angel.”
When I tell you that I felt pure joy at that moment, I’m not exaggerating. I wasn’t the one getting the gifts. I wasn’t the one who was now ready for an epic Christmas reunion. But I was as happy as I’d ever been in my life.
This is just one example of what your support makes possible — for everyone involved. So, as the year-end holiday season looms, please continue to help me help others.
Here are the best ways to keep things going and growing:
Make a direct donation right here.
Order items from my wishlist here.
Commit to a monthly pledge at Patreon here.
To keep things simple, click here and donate whatever feels right for you!
No matter what, please spread the word by sharing the above links far and wide! Thank you, as always, for your kind and generous support. And if you cross paths with a homeless woman or any vulnerable soul, remember to be friendly and compassionate.
P.S. I wrote more about B. here:
That time a homeless woman's prayer was answered...
********************************************************************
P.S. It would be deeply appreciated if you’d sign up to become a paid subscriber for less than $5 per month. It directly enables this blog/podcast to keep going and growing. You can find the link at the bottom of the post.
If you prefer, you can donate any amount whenever you’d like by clicking here. Thank you in advance, it helps!