“If I should walk the streets no place to sleep, no faith in promises you keep, I’d have no way to buy bread, with a bottle for my bed” lyrics from song, “In the Palm of Your Hand” by Alison Krauss and the Cox Family

Today, we had the privilege of serving 32 people.

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• Today we had the pleasure of having Peg from Plymouth County Outreach come along with us.  Peg wanted to connect with some of her clients who have slipped through the cracks.  She is a huge resource for helping our friends get their IDs that were lost, along with helping them get into treatment or to find housing.  Some do this type of work because it’s their job, but with Peg it’s a passion.

• We ran into a new friend (Gary) carrying a bunch of small bags with all his belongings, along with his small dog.  He was saddened to hear of Jim’s passing.  He didn’t know because he was in jail at the time.  He was visibly moved when we gave him Jim’s mass card.  We gave him our packet of $10 bill/$10 Dunkin Donuts card/prayer card, socks, tee shirts, snacks.

• We spotted (Tommy) sleeping on cardboard next to a dumpster.  He woke up when I started calling his name.  I thought it was strange when he didn’t answer me.  I moved closer to him, and he then recognized me.  He thought I was the building management at first.  We fixed him up with Gatorade, snacks and our packet.  I had promised him a tent a month ago, but he went into the hospital for three weeks.  We told him we had a tent for him which he was very happy about.  I noticed his left leg was very swollen with open sores on it.  Last time we saw his legs like this we kept telling him he needs to go to the hospital and get it looked at.  His standard answer is “If I do, they will keep me there”.  

• We met another new friend this morning (Robert).  He didn’t fit the look of a street friend but was down on his luck and was curiously watching us hand out our packet, along with snacks, Gatorade, water, socks, underwear.  We offered him our packet, and his eyes lit up and he was smiling ear to ear.  He thanked us.  I asked him if anyone had ever commented that he looked like Marvelous Marvin Hagler, the champion boxer from Brockton.  He smiled no but said it was a great compliment.

• We were saddened to hear that the married couple who we were told went into treatment were back on the street because of a mix-up with their insurance.  Peg spoke to them and is going to try to get it resolved.

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God Bless,

Kathy Flaherty

Shaun Teed, Peg and Tito

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“Walk while you have light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.” John 12:35b and 35c

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