October 10th is the day that I selected to give away the wonderful collection of items obtained. My first stop was an outreach effort made with the help of my uncle, Pastor Jerry Robles, my aunt Ligia Vazquez and one of their church members -Virginia. We visited the camps under the bridge and near the dam in Lawrence. My heart broke when I saw the conditions many people live in. No video or report could have prepared to what I saw. Despite the fact that I am not able to relate to homelessness as I have never lived through it, I was able to empathize. Their survival spirit inspired me and made realize that I don't do enough. Their resourcefulness motivated me to be more active in the community and spark in others the desire to help by leading with example. I was able to relate with the fact that these were my people, mostly young Puerto Rican men that sometimes have no voice and are invisible to society. Their faces showed despair, pain, but also love and hope. I will never forget their gratitude and humility. They were knocked down but no broken.
I also visited the Daybreak Shelter and reunited with their assistant director- Greg, which is someone I know from the past, someone I know leads by example. They received the biggest portion of the donation- 5 boxes of prefilled bags. I was given a tour of the shelter and we talked about their daily routines, and the success stories. Their need is huge and I can only hope that our efforts will help ease their burden.
Through this journey I also learned that not everyone is comfortable helping, that some have forgotten they have been blessed and have grown blind to the need of others. Some people said they "don't give because they don't have", and I will tell them that is the opposite; they don't have because they don't give. No judgement, as their attitude was never an obstacle, but a motivator.
It's not my place to judge or even understand homelessness and its complexities. My job as a nurse is to meet them where they are, and attempt to alleviate their struggle...to remember that they are someone's children, someone's parent, someone's sibling... that they are human, just like me who have taken a different path in life.
Your generosity helped many. I am sharing some pictures, but not of the homeless victims because I want to respect their privacy...I hope you are proud of what you have done. I am proud of all of you, together we can make a difference.
I am going to close this entry with a quote from Danzel Washington that says "At the end of the day its not about what you have or even what you have accomplished...its about who you've lifted up, who you've made better. Its about what you've given back".
