SULLIVAN FRESH COMMUNITY CUPBOARD: STORIES FROM THE ROAD Submitted by Martin Colavito, Sullivan Fresh Community Cupboard Program Manager
For the past 40 years I have been a Human Servant lucky enough for those I serve to allow me into their lives. One of the things that I witness repeatedly is folks who seem to not have a lot, offering all they have for others. One of the residences we deliver to currently has three men living there. Three adults residing in a one- bedroom small home. When we originally began delivering to these folks, we immediately hit it off and got along, often joking around and just taking time away from all of our current existences. The fellow who rented the home, Ted, allowed the other two guys, Ron and Bill to live there because they were homeless. Now you got to understand, Ted is disabled and living on a very limited income, but this did not stop him from giving a lot even though he did not have much. About two months after we began serving these folks, Ron was diagnosed with a terminal illness requiring very painful treatments. Every week for months we would hold court with these guys bringing Ron chocolate in hopes of the
candy working magic, and possibly paroling Ron for an instant from his discomfort. Ron never gave in to the pain, and throughout this trial, continued to do odd jobs for a little bit of cash. One day when we were delivering Ron crawled out of the house crying because he was scared. I remember Beth and myself holding Ron like our family, letting him know we were there. Week after week Ron struggled but did not give in, having some good days, but mostly bad ones. Ron finally completed his treatments, and decided to take each day at a time, reminding me to do the same, but life being the fickle partner that it is, decided to give Bill a terminal illness at Extension Connection
August 2021
about the same time Ron completed his treatment. To further complicate matters, Ted had taken a downward spiral initially requiring a home care and ultimately hospitalization. Currently Bill’s condition is not that great, debilitating at best, leaving Ron, who is terminally ill, left to care for his friends.
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