Scott Maida

Martin Luther King Day was hardly a celebration for some people. All this talk of being civil and the strides made by the civil rights movement seemed hollow to many of the homeless people I saw that snowy Monday morning.

I was in Downtown Minneapolis early  that day to distribute donations to homeless folks as they exited the two busiest shelters, the Salvation Army Harbor Lights and the Catholic Charities Shelter. It was disheartening that the vast majority of the men and women  I saw were African-American, although not surprising. Last year when I initiated this charity drive and again this winter, that is always the case. On this day, it was more poignant and profound. I asked a couple of men about MLK Day.. one gentleman  said everyday is MLK day. We had a witty exchange and he was on his way… smiling and laughing, a rare site on the street.  One pleasant man  said it was just like any other day. We talked for while I was busy helping people find what they were looking for in the bins I laid out on a plastic tarp. He said his meds were working and hoped that would mean he would be too. He was looking forward to the MLK program the Salvation Army was hosting in the chapel. Not everyone is as optimistic and gentle. One  man was disappointed about not finding any large coats. I told him I had only a couple and they went fast. That just got him more agitated about being a Muslim on the street. He ranted about getting nothing but meat at shelter dinners and having to suffer Christian teachings to get certain services. He complained about hearing people call Muslims terrorists. His language was violent. I was the only one listening. I gave him a card with a list of services but he threw it down. I asked if he called the United Way for information or went to a local Mosque for help. He said the Muslim community was the only source of help for him. I told him I was sorry he was having this issues and I would try to save him a large coat next time but he stormed off.  I couldn’t help him, of course.. and I could not even begin to feel his pain and anger.

On the other end of the spectrum was a gentle man reciting the bible to me as he looked for warm articles of clothing for his very old mother.   I saw more women than usual this time around, including a couple of familiar faces. One was a beautiful and elegant woman from Tennessee.. still searching for the father of her child. It seems many people on the street are searching for something. Some are even looking for something specific to wear.. a certain color or style of scarf, coat or hat. While others would wear whatever would keep them warm, even one glove or a man wearing a women’s coat (most men would not). Many women really appreciated some of the finer things I had and most of the folks were genuinely grateful overall. Sure, they can get clothes from free stores and other shelters, but this outreach provides them with something warm right out of the shelter and onto another cold day on the street.

I’d like to thank St. John’s Episcopal Church for their continued support and the majority of the donations.

Oh yes and a special thanks to the Harbor Lights worker who jumped my van’s battery.

To donate contact me or drop off warm clothes to St. John’s Episcopal Church in Southwest Minneapolis.