It's been quite sometime since I've been able to find time to write on this blog. But since I got laid off from work this week I've had time to dust off the old resume and keep myself busy during the day doing some additional volunteer work around town.
One of my favorite things to do is to help Officers "BB St. Roman and Sam Scaffidi" Of the New Orleans police Department Homeless Assistance Unit. I've been working all week with them visiting clients and following up on a few success stories. The following is one such story;
Last summer an elderly gentleman by the name of Chris lived at the Wedding Chapel with me. Then one day I woke up and Chris was gone! I asked all around the Quarter what happened to Chris? No one knew. Later that summer I ran into Chris up on North Rampart and discovered he was homeless and sleeping in an alley. I checked him into the Days Inn for a night to shower and wash his clothes. I then told him to meet each Friday at 5pm on a certain corner. Each week I gave him 7 meals (ready to eat) to get him through the week and $40 to $60 bucks (what ever I could afford). Chris wasn't on drugs nor an alcoholic, in fact he didn't drink at all. In high school he had the highest SAT score in the country. The City was so thrilled they held a testimonial dinner in his honor and the Mayor of New Orleans gave him the key to the City. He went on to teach at Loyola University until he was drafted and became a decorated Air Force pilot during the Vietnam War. He served for ten years. When he returned to the states he moved into his brothers home in Tennessee for 2 1/2 years. He then returned to New Orleans and since then has been homeless. That was 22 years ago. No one knows what happened to him in Tennessee, but something happened to this brilliant mind. So anyway I was helping Chris out as best as I could until one day HE WAS GONE and I never saw him again. I figured the crack heads finally took him out.
Two days BB, Sam and I were visiting clients and BB promised one client in the lower ninth she would stop by with new mini blinds for his kitchen window. We pulled up to this beautiful duplex which was completely renovated and I knocked on the door to install the blinds for him. Guess who answered? Chris! I has so happy to see him the tears were streaming down my face as Chris and I hugged. BB said you guys know each other? And we both laughed.
Through the "road home program" she got Chris free rent vouchers, she contacted the Air Force and got his pension checks issued to her in her name on his behalf, the same with his social security checks and she opened a savings account for him. Each week she gives him $200 spending money for groceries and she pays his utilities out of his savings account, she takes him to the Walmat for clothes and dresses him properly and takes him grocery shopping. He was clean, healthy and in great spirits.
So it turned out to be a very happy day for me.
This afternoon I went over to clean out the transport van I said "BB" this van needs a thorough cleaning it's filthy. So Icleaned and waxed it from top to bottom for her. I envy BB and Sam, they have jobs they love to wake up to each day and are dedicated to their craft.
