Dear Anonymous,
This is dear Charles, who has a roof over his head and a coat over his big heart but lives with one foot on the streets. Watching out for others. Watching.
We are standing together, maybe 4 of us, and they reminisce about GIMME and about NIKI, both homeless brothers who died on the streets this year. I listen to these men reflect on their street brothers. Their challenges. The injustices they had witnessed and their sense of loss. They become quiet.
We were able to supply Charles with a lovely womens' backpack filled with womens clothing to distribute to the young girls he sees sleeping outside. Thank you Dear Anonymous. He was grateful. And to lighten the mood we offer to add some new ladies briefs recently donated, but, well... they are rather large and he is both embarrassed and totally taken off guard. I can still hear his laughter echoing down Commercial Street.