“Lately I’m drowning my pain with a bottle and Mary Jane, no matter what I take, I feel the same”. Lyrics from “Bottle and Mary Jane” by Jelly Roll

Today, we had the privilege of serving 35 people.

• With the changing of the weather, our friends are scattered around the city trying to stay warm.  With the shelter moving to the other side of the city, some of our friends stay downtown and ride out the cold weather in tents or in doorways or under bridges.  This is the time of year that creates an extra look of emptiness and sadness in our friends’ eyes knowing they’re heading into another holiday season estranged from their families.  This was especially true when we ran into our friend (Katie) who looked almost unrecognizable from just two weeks ago.  Her face was sunk in from weight loss along with her once well kept blonde hair faded and unkempt.  It is sometimes shocking to see the transformation take place, but it happens sometimes quickly and sometimes slowly.  When we asked her what was going on she said she couldn’t talk about it right now but will reach out later.  We continue to tell them we love them and will do anything for them.  It’s so sad to see the light go out in someone’s eyes when they lose hope.  We continue to pray for all of them and ask them to pray also.

• We ran into our friend (Larry) who was singing “Nobody Loves Me” to himself.  “But (Larry) we love you” we told him.  We gave him our packet of $10 bill/$10 Dunkin Donuts Card/prayer card along with socks.  Blankets, jackets, sweatshirts, sweatpants were in demand this morning.

• We met a new friend (Sheila) who was walking across the street.  I called out to her “Could you use some help?”  She kept walking quickly away saying, “No”.  I held up our packet of $10 bill/$10 Dunkin Donuts card/prayer card to show her what we were offering.  She turned around and said, “So you’re the guy”.  She thought we were some creeps trying to hit on her.  She told us she heard on the street what we are doing on Saturdays but had never run into us.  She was happy she did.

• We met a new friend (Kathleen) who was pushing a walker and looked really puzzled about what we were giving out to a bunch of our friends.  When we asked what her name was she told us (Kathleen).  As we were handing out clothes and snacks to others we turned back and asked her, “(Kathleen) what do you need”?  She replied, “How do you know my name?”  I replied, “you just told me” and she smiled.  I hugged her so hard she almost fell off her walker.  It’s amazing how a little thing like remembering someone’s name means the world to them.
  

With the weather changing, sweatpants and hooded sweatshirts along with gently used winter coats (men’s and women’s) are needed.  Thank you to all who support OSM.

PLEASE NOTE:  We have changed our location for donations for On the Street Ministry from Holy Cross Retreat House to My Brother’s Keeper.  We currently have a box in the main stairway on the 1^st floor of MBK.  If you have recurring orders through Amazon or any other retail website, please change the delivery address to:

On the Street Ministry

C/o Shaun Teed

67 Turner Road

Scituate, MA 02066

Thank you and God Bless,

Liz Londergan

Shaun Teed and Tito

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“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you”. Jeremiah 29:12

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