I would be HONORED to help with your efforts where the homeless are concerned. This holds a VERY special place in my heart and I applaud you for seeing them as people, not many do.

It is sad in our day and age that there are so many without a home. You see, this is important to me as I myself WAS HOMELESS in a SHELTER right here in Columbus, Ohio.

My situation at the time was this: I just had a baby and my fiance had me home with the baby while he worked. We could not afford childcare and even if I worked, my earning would go to the sitter. So, I worked from home as I could and he worked a regular job.

A few months down the road, he was hit by a car walking home from the store. He ended up passing away as a result of his injuries. I was left with no job, a baby, a funeral to pay for and in term oil. His family did not help with the expenses so, I sold everything I owned car included to make enough to give him a PROPER burial...they wanted the state to take care of it, but he was a Great man who deserved more than that! So, I took it upon myself to give him the proper services.

I ended up losing our place and my child and I ended up in the Family Shelter located on W. Broad St across from the Spaghetti Warehouse. I called THAT HOME for about 4 months. In those 4 months I obtained childcare, a job and got back on my feet.

It was hard as hell and PEOPLE made it even WORSE! I can recall the snickering, the looks, the head shakes in disbelief and all that. Makes you feel like crap when you are already down and out. Nothing worse than being kicked while you are down :(

People were cruel, heartless and just downright rude to myself and child. I even had people call my baby names and tell me I was ruining her life when in fact, I was doing what I needed to do in order to better our lives.

This was years ago and from that point on, holidays and weekends we still to this day help out with the homeless. I donate blankets and the like DIRECT to people on the streets. I have not been as active due to lack of transportation right now. My kids do not recall being there, in fact I only had one child then. I do tell them all about those days when I had nothing and nowhere to go. It helps them to appreciate what they do have now even if not what they WANT.

I also remember one little old lady who "lived" at the shelter with her grandson. They had nobody, mom was a crackhead and dad was no where to be found. I remember her getting BEAT TO A PULP by some little thugs!! She went and pawned the last of her heirlooms to try to get out of there to have it all taken from her in less than 20 minutes :( This bruised not only her body but, her emotions and pride as well. Sad to say, she ended up commiting suicide not long after as she could not take it anymore. That little one ended up in the system and I pray with a loving home. Point here is, nobody should be made to feel like this woman or myself felt at times due to the cards we were dealt.

For all those who see the homeless and think "what a bum, druggie, alcoholic etc al" PLEASE keep an open mind and remember while there are SOME who are those things NOT EVERYONE asked or likes the situation they are faced with. There are good people in there who are just down on their luck. Not all the time is there an open bed for them in shelters hence them being on the streets. Think twice before you judge and know it could be you, your mother, brother, aunt, uncle friend or another person you know.

I do want to point out that there was one kind woman who I will remember forever! I do not know nor then did I know her name. She was just a heaven sent angel bestowed on me by God. She used to come in and donate items to the shelter, I began talking to her and we began a friendship. She saw I was more than a product of my environment and that I was TRYING to get out. She blessed me with all kinds of odd jobs to help me EARN my way out. She did not provide HAND OUTS but HAND UPS! I worked hard and made sure I always exceeded her needs. We helped one another and in the end, it was this wonderful woman who helped me to earn enough to move out of there. We kept in touch but she never would tell me her name :( She told me it was unimportant just so I knew God led her to me. Upon signing my lease and getting my keys, she went and bought me items for the home and baby. She provided me with a crib, sheets, pillows, couch bed and some kitchen items. Lord knows I could not have made it along so swiftly without her help.

She had my info..phone #, address etc and used to stop by often calling my daughter her angel :) we stayed in touch until she just disappeared....I was worried but thought, prehaps she found someone else who needed her more. A few weeks later in the mail, I get a letter from her with no return address. The letter began by telling me:
Thank you for allowing me into you and your daughters lives. You have no idea the impact you have had on me, I will forever remember you both. Then I got to the middle and she wrote, if you are reading this then that means I died. You two were all I had in this world and I would like to leave you with my worth. She had written out a money order in the amount of 10,000.00
She explained it was her lifes worth, all she had to her name...and she wanted US to have it! OMG, the tears poured...for several reasons first being she passed, second being she cared enough to think of us in her dying days and third she left us everything. She said I know you will do whats right with this money...use it as you see fit.

I went and cashed the money order...paid 2 months rent and bills with it and bought some things for the baby and myself and the remaining funds, I went right back to our roots...the shelter. I bought blankets, clothes, shoes, toiletries and more for them and gave them a cash donation in NANAS memory.

Looking back, it was hella hard no doubt but, I am thankful for my plight. It helped to make me who I am today and without those life lessons, one can not grow :) Never forget where you came from or how you got to where you are today!

Many Blessings Friends and please pray for these folks, they sure do need it. SOS Ministries, thank you for this post and please get in touch with me...I would be HONORED to join your ministry :)

Wow! Just noticed how long this turned out to be...sorry about that, this just hit home for me :)