Scott Maida

Homeless donation outreach MLK Day 2012 January 20, 2012

My friend Mike and I experienced a “home” coming of sorts recently. Mike rejoined the outreach we started two years ago outside the Salvation Army’s Harbor Lights Shelter in downtown Minneapolis. This time, he was sober and off the street. It was healthy for Mike to return to a place and face some of the demons he fought with over several years of homlessness. While we were distributing warm clothes and backpacks to numerous men coming out of the shelters, Mike talked with a couple of guys about his life and how he got off the street. He also reconnected with a man he befriended on the street. It was good to be back at Currie Avenue with my good friend. He is an inspiration.

However, it was a sobering experience in other respects. As we were wrapping up, I noticed a man in a wheelchair nearby. Jim had no legs. I asked him if he needed anything. He said no thanks. He was just hanging out with a younger man, Bruce, age 47 from Chicago. They told me a few days ago, Jim was mugged by two men who stole his wallet. The police couldn’t help him find the cowards and even asked Jim if he had been drinking. Jim was insulted. But as Mike can tell you, that is life on the street. I asked him about how he lost his legs. He said about five years ago he got drunk with some guys and then was beat up badly and set on fire. He woke up 3 months later in the hospital with no legs. Mike and I looked at each other in shock. In the three years I’ve been doing this outreach, this story was the saddest.

His new friend, Bruce is black. Jim is white. Bruce and I discussed the meaning of MLK Day to homeless black males. “It’s just another day on the street’, he said. He went on a long discussion about MLK, faith, history, etc. He is very intelligent and passionate. He’s a Muslim but was critical of Islam as well as Christianity. Another younger black male joined the discussion. He said there are no holidays on the street. Ironically, holidays are worse. Government and bus services are effected.

The homeless outreach hopefully will continue next month. If interested, contact me at scott@maidastouch.net or drop off donations at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 4201 Sheridan Av. S., Minneapolis. Mens clothes are the biggest need, especiallly gloves. 

Thank you from myself, Mike and the all too many people trying to survive on the streets.