February is here and with it come green fields and cool temperatures. Some camps are wet but the flooding is mainly under control. Staying warm and dry is essential for our friends so getting them access to hot meals, warm clothing, and dry places is our focus lately.
A group of students from St. Gregory’s recently organized a blanket drive that was a big success! The students arrived at our Redwood City location with wagons full of fluffy, colorful blankets tied up neatly in bows. The students and their chaperones handed out many warm blankets and hand warmers to our friends who had just gone through the meal line. Soon many attendees sat eating their food next to our gas heaters, wrapped in colorful fabrics.
Our meal team was a collection of students and parents from nearby Sacred Heart Schools bringing trays of delicious chicken and vegetables. Kelly Power, their principal organizer and longtime friend of the ministry spoke with us about student volunteering and why they keep coming back.
About ten years ago I was introduced to Street Life Ministries and talked to David Shearin. He encouraged our kids to get out there and get involved so I thought it would be appropriate for our seventh-grade students and their parents to volunteer once a month. We first started coming here to Redwood City and we sort of grew with it. It’s so powerful for the students and me every time. They also get a kick out of making part of the meal and then serving that same meal, they’re like “Hey, that was fun!”
I think our students are sometimes surprised living in an affluent area and then coming here and seeing people from all walks of life and some are struggling. I remind them that we are breaking down barriers. Some people see a group of teenagers and wonder “What are they up to? Nothing but trouble.” To see our students step up and be kind, open, and hospitable, it’s good practice.
David has been so open and excited for our students to be a part of this ministry, he’s come in every year to talk to our students and sometimes stays all day! The students are appreciative of his honesty, they don’t always hear people admit to their mistakes. After working with a lot of other organizations, I can say that Street Life is so open and appreciative to us, we feel welcome.
Kev’s Korner
Wassup, my friends? February is my favorite month of the entire year – mostly cuz it’s my birthday month, and I’m kinda selfish like that. Hehehe.
Anyways, here we are, and we survived January. Honestly every year January feels like it has around 7500 days, man. Well, before we start this one off, get yourself a refill on your coffee, find a comfortable spot to chill for a couple, and get ready to ride with me. No worries, Big Ol’ Kev’s got you, 100 per cent…
I guess you’ve noticed how freakin’ cold it’s been. Even I have to wear multiple sweatshirts, hoodies, and a massive jacket and gloves to make it through the nights we serve lately. If I didn’t have all those things, I’d be hard pressed to come out to the Lot to do what I do. Our folks, the ones who come to Street Life, don’t always have what I got, and it breaks my heart. I’ve seen dudes in shorts and a t-shirt showing up, and I always tell them to go to the clothing closet and get a jacket and some sweats and tell Debbie that Kevin sent them to do it. Not long ago, I found out that one of the new “get downs” is to say I sent them to do it even if I didn’t – thereby assuring them a decent jacket and/or sweats even if they’re not eligible. It’s hard to keep up with all the “get downs”, but I do my best. To those that don’t understand what a “get down” is, it’s kind of like a way to get over on the system. Whatever system you’re dealing with. At Street Life, more often than not, people try to game the system in order to get more than their fair share. Yeah, it’s kinda dishonest, but what would YOU do if you were cold and/or hungry? I don’t blame them one bit for trying…
We got a new Kitchen Manager named Jeff. He’s pretty awesome, and I’m proud to say he’s my friend. He comes to Street Life with his daughter Megan. She’s pretty awesome, too. Our food quality is going up like crazy. We even had meatloaf and mashed potatoes last week !!! Jeff and Megan are a killer Father/Daughter team and I just thought they deserved a shout-out and props for grabbing the ball on the run and heading for the end zone…
St. Gregory’s showed up at the Lot to give blankets to everyone who wanted one, and it was a huge success. There’s a lot to be said for the kids that came out just to hand out blankets to homeless folks, and I think the impact is felt on both sides of the equation. I think it’s important to try opening the hearts of our kids early to situations like ours, where the kids can see the homeless/disadvantaged in a bit of a different light. Maybe it’ll help to remove the stigma of homelessness and help to open the hearts of people that might be able to help. Sounds like a win – win to me…
Well, friends, my birthday is Monday, February 20th. I’m gonna be 54 this year. Not convinced I’m getting any wiser, but I’m sure getting older. I’m gonna be 36 years past my expected life expectancy. Honestly, I just think our Lord has a sense of humor…
Father, everything we do at Street Life, and all I do personally is to lift You up on high. Please keep those in need of safety safe, and those in need of strength strong. Keep us warm in Your Loving Embrace. and know that we are striving to do our best in Your Amazing Name, Lord. Personally Lord, thanks for another year on this rock, and thanks for being MY rock. In Your Name I pray all of this, Father. Amen.
See you on the streets.
(Oh hey – P.S.- I have not had a single cigarette in over a month. It’s working!!!)
