11 24 2010

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Where the poor and homeless November 24 - December 7, 2010

October 13 - 26, 2010

earn and give their two cents

D STE GE ON G I S U N AT DO

Volume 8 Issue 3

Hunger has no Season

65 cents for the Vendor

35 cents for production of the paper

14-year-old bikes cross country to lobby Congress See page 6

Children walk in homeless mini-walks in coordination with Fannie Mae Walkathon page 7

We’re launching a brand new layout soon, so keep your eyes peeled!

A visit to the Capital Area Food Bank shines light on the city’s need for donated food Page 4

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October 13 - 26, 2010

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Our Mission

Street Sense aims to serve as a vehicle for elevating voices and public debate on issues relating to poverty while also creating economic opportunities for people who are experiencing homelessness in our community.

Do you want to continue to support Street Sense throughout the year?

Order a subscription today!

Not only will you receive 26 issues packed with all our latest news, poetry and photography, you will also help raise awareness about poverty in the D.C. area.

___ YES! I want to subscribe to Street Sense for just $40 a year for 26 issues. ___ YES! I want to give half of the cost of a subscription to my favorite vendor: ______________________________ Name:_________________________ Address:_______________________ City:____________State:__________ Zip: ___________________________ Phone: ________________________ E-mail: ________________________ Please make checks payable to: Street Sense.

Mail to: Street Sense, 1317 G St. NW, Washington, DC 20005.

The Story of Street Sense Street Sense began in August 2003 after two volunteers, Laura Thompson Osuri and Ted Henson, approached the National Coalition for the Homeless on separate occasions about starting a street newspaper in Washington, D.C. A street paper is defined as a newspaper about poverty, homelessness and other social issues that provides an income to the homeless individuals who sell it. About 28 street papers operate in the United States and Canada in places like Seattle, Chicago, Montreal and Boston, and dozens more exist throughout the world.

After bringing together a corps of dedicated volunteers and vendors, Street Sense came out with its first issue in November 2003, printing 5,000 copies. For the next three years the paper published on a monthly basis and greatly expanded its circulation and vendor network.

For the first year, Street Sense operated as a project of the National Coalition for the Homeless, but in October 2004, the organization incorporated and moved into its own office space.

In March 2005, Street Sense received 501(c)3 status, becoming a nonprofit organization.

In October 2005, Street Sense formed a full board of directors, and in November the organization hired its first employee, a full-time executive director.

A year later in November 2006, the organization hired its first vendor coordinator and began partnering with several service providers.

In February 2007, the paper started publishing twice a month and to support the increased production brought on its first full-time editor– in–chief in April.

As of January 2010 the paper had 72 active vendors and prints about 30,000 issues a month.

Vendor Code of Conduct 1. Street Sense will be distributed for a voluntary donation of $1. I agree not to ask for more than a dollar or solicit donations for Street Sense by any other means.

2. I will only purchase the paper from Street Sense staff and will not sell papers to other vendors (outside of the office volunteers).

3. I agree to treat all others – customers, staff, other vendors – respectfully, and I will not “hard sell,” threaten or pressure customers.

4. I agree to stay off private property when selling Street Sense.

5. I understand that I am not a legal employee of Street Sense, but a contracted worker responsible for my own well–being and income.

6. I agree to sell no additional goods or products when selling the paper.

7. I will not sell Street Sense under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

8. I agree to stay a block away from another vendor and respect the space of all vendors.

9. I understand that my badge is the property of Street Sense and that I will not deface it. I will present my badge when purchasing the papers and display my badge and wear my vest when selling papers.

10. I understand that Street Sense strives to be a paper that covers homelessness and poverty issues while providing a source of income for the homeless. I will try to help in this effort and spread the word.

We are proud members of:

1317 G Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 Phone: (202) 347–2006 Fax: (202) 347–2166 info@streetsense.org www.streetsense.org BOARD OF DIRECTORS Lisa Estrada Ted Henson North American Brad Scriber Michael Stoops Street Newspaper Manas Mohaptra Sommer Mathis Association Kristal DeKleer Robin Heller Jeffery McNeil Jordan Rummel John Snellgrove Dameon Philpotts Martin Walker EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Abby Strunk International EDITOR–IN–CHIEF Network of Mary Otto Street Papers MANAGING EDITOR Lisa V. Gillespie COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRAM MANAGER Amy Vokes INTERNS Jennifer Steadman, Hayley Burgess, Sam Giffin, Shadaye Hunnicutt, Cynthia Ribas-Santos, Kimberly Kroll Founders Ted Henson & Laura Thompson Osuri VOLUNTEERS/WRITERS Rhonda Brown, Jane Cave, Holly Caesar, Margaret Chapman, Tracie Ching, James Clarke, Nikki Conyers, Bobby Corrigan, Carol Cummings, Adam Dangelo, Sara Dimmitt, Rachel Estabrook, Sarah Ficenec, Robert Fulton, Jane Goforth, Roberta Haber, Elia Herman, Sharon King, Trisha Knisely, Vicki Ann Lancaster, Elle Leech-Black, Elsie Oldaker, Rachael Petterson, Katinka Podmaniczky, Mike Plunkett, Willie Schatz, Jesse Smith, Maggie Smith, Mandy Toomey, Brett Topping , Shaina Kershner, Joe Duffy, Rhonda Green, Steve Gilberg, Sean Liskansky

VENDORS Michael Anderson, Charles Armstrong, Jake Ashford, Lawrence Autry, Daniel Ball, Donna Barber, John Bayne, Kenneth Belkosky, Patricia Benjamin, Tommy Bennett, Jimmy Bigelow, Reginald Black, Emily Bowe, Debora Brantley, Andre Brinson, Cliff Carle, Percy Carter, Peggy Cash, Conrad Cheek, Virginia Clegg, Aaron Conner, Anthony Crawford, Kwayera Dakari, Louise Davenport, Michael Dawson, Charles Davis, James Davis, David Denny, Ricardo Dickerson, Muriel Dixon, Alvin Dixon El, Deana Elder, Richard Embden, James Featherson, Tanya Franklin, Samuel Fullwood, Larry Garner, David Ger, Marcus Green, Barron Hall, Dwight Harris, John Harrison, Lorrie Hayes, Patricia Henry, Shakaye Henry, Shawn Herring, Derian Hickman, Philliip Howard, James Hughes, Richard Hutson, Margaret Jenkins, Donald Johnson, Alicia Jones, Mark Jones, Clinton Kilpatrick, Hope Lassiter, Brenda Lee-Wilson, Mary Lisenko, James Lott, Michael Lyons, Johnnie Malloy, Kina Mathis, John C. Matthews, Charlie Mayfield, Herman Lee Mayse, Robert McCray, Marvin McFadden, Jermale McKnight, Jennifer McLaughlin, Jeffery McNeil, Kenneth Middleton, L. Morrow, Saleem Muhammad, Tyrone Murray, Charles Nelson, Sammy Ngatiri, Evelyn Nnam, Moyo Onibuje, Franklin Payne, Edward Perry, Gregory Phillips, Tracey Powell, Ash-Shaheed Rabbil, Michael Reardon, Melania Scott, Chris Shaw, Ronald Simms, J. Simpson, Veda Simpson, Gwynette Smith, Patty Smith, Franklin Sterling, Warren Stevens, James Stewart, Leroy Studevant, Beverly Sutton, Paul Taylor Sybil Taylor, Steve Thomas, Larissa Thompson, Louise Thundercloud, Deborah Tibbs, Ronald Turner, Christopher Walker, Jeanette Walker, Martin Walker, Robert Warren, Lawless Watson, Paul Watson, Michael J. Welsh, Edna Williams, Sherle Williams, Wendell Williams, Susan Wilshusen, Ivory Wilson, Mark Wolf, Charles Woods, Tina Wright

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October 13 - 26, 2010

Homeless Man Finds $3,300 in Backpack and Returns It Arizona’s Dave Talley is being hailed as a hero, the Daily Mail reports. The recovering alcoholic who has been homeless for more than 11 years found a backpack in Tempe with around $3,300. Though he said he was tempted to keep it, Talley decided against it, instead reporting the backpack to a nearby homeless shelter, which helped him find the owner.

“I don’t think anybody would not be tempted by that,” Talley, 49, said in an interview with the Associated Press.

Inside the backpack was a flash drive with the owner’s resume stored on it, leading Talley to the rightful owner, Arizona State University student Bryan Belanger.

“This is the greatest thing I’ve ever experienced,” Belanger said. “I think it is really is a lesson to keep your faith in people. Character exists no matter what your circumstances are.”

Belanger said he gave Talley an unspecified reward for returning the backpack.

Debate Over Church’s Warming Station Heats Up A church is Central Point, Ore., is trying to work with its community after drawing harsh criticism for letting homeless indi-

viduals sleep over night at the church, KTVL reports.

Calvary Temple said it’s working toward making the warming stations comply with city ordinances. Last year, city officials were unhappy that the church was supplying cots for the homeless to spend the night. But this year, the pastor, Marilynn Tucker, said they’re working to alleviate the concern “ We m a d e s o m e m i s t a k e s b u t I h o p e w e’v e l e a r n e d f r o m t h e m a n d we hope the community will support us in this,” Tucker said to KTVL. Among changes, Tucker says there won’t be cots available but there will be food, drinks and movies.

Circulation Boosts for Ho m e l e s s P u b l i c a t i o n s Publications designed to help homeless individuals, such as The Big Issue, have seen a 10 percent boost in global circulation during the past year, Independent Television News reports. In Europe specifically, sales of homeless-geared publications rose 6.4 percent, according to the International Network of Street Papers. Sales of 115 papers in September were at 1.51 million, compared with 1.37 million a year earlier.

This is a stark contrast with the drop in global daily newspaper circulation reported

2010 has been a milestone year for Street Sense Supporters like you made a statement: Street Sense has become a part of the city’s social fabric, and we want the organization to continue helping homeless men and women to help themselves – people like Patti Smith, who recently graduated from Career Technical Institute.

We have more work to do in 2011! Some of our key goals include: Make improvements to our newspaper design and layout Fully implement our Vendor Roadmap, helping more vendors to reach their housing, education and job goals Continue building infrastructure to support the recruitment of more vendors and the expansion of the newspaper Street Sense is depending upon donors like you to ensure the organization’s financial viability in 2011 and beyond. Make a resolution you can be proud of all year long.

Please make this your 2011 New Year’s Resolution: Support Street Sense. Start today by contributing your end-of-year donation.

My 2011 New Year’s Resolution is to Support Street Sense!

I want to donate: My Information: ____ $1500 Name: ________________________________________ ____ $1000 Address: ______________________________________ ____ $500 City, State, Zip:_________________________________ ____ $300 Phone: ______________ Email: ___________________ ____ $100 ____ $60 Another amount of ______.

I’d like the amount of _____ to go directly to vendor ________________________.

Please make checks payable to “Street Sense” and mail to: 1317 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005

Donate online at www.streetsense.org

for August by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers.

N.Y. Pastor Goes Homeless to Help Needy Buffalo, N.Y., Pastor Eric Johns and his wife, Michelle, decided 12 years ago to help five needy families by delivering food and toys during the Christmas season, WBEN reports.

“When we first started the Boxes of Love program, we didn’t really have anybody helping us, and somehow or another, we needed to draw attention to the need that was in the community, so I had the idea to live with the homeless for a week,” Johns told WBEN. “I had no idea that it would take on the life of its own that it really did.

Since that first year, Johns has continued to spend one week during the holiday season on the streets. This year, he’ll spend Thanksgiving, traveling from shelter to shelter and eating at soup kitchens.

“I just leave my home and spend five-anda-half days eating in soup kitchens, sleeping in shelters, sometimes outside. Wherever the homeless are, I’m there,” Johns said. “I spend a week really living in another man’s world, walking in another man’s shoes, and drawing attention to the need that’s really out there, especially this time of year.”

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The “Boxes of Love program continues; this year it’s set to bring food to 3,500 families and toys to 5,000 children, a figure that’s more than they’ve ever achieved before.

Homeless in India Scores of residents of New Delhi were left homeless after city officials evacuated dozens of buildings near the place where an overcrowded apartment building collapsed and killed 67 people, highlighting the dangerous housing conditions among the poor in India’s capital.

Officials said the collapsed building had been weakened by heavy rains, and have since determined at least 38 other structures in the same Lalita Park neighborhood are damaged by water and in danger of falling, according to the Associated Press.

“We have issued them notice to vacate their houses immediately for their safety,” Municipal Corporation of Delhi spokesman Deep Mathur told Press Trust of India.

But those forced to leave their homes said they had nowhere to go.

The newly homeless were milling around a nearby park, receiving food from neighbors and local non-governmental organizations.

Compiled by Dianna Heitz, from previously published reports.

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October 13 - 26, 2010

The Changing Face of Hunger The need for donated food has grown substaintially during the economic downturn The holiday season is upon us and dinner is on our minds. When D.C. residents gather together to enjoy a feast and share what they are thankful for, many will be thankful for the Capital Area Food Bank, who will distribute about 15,000 turkeys this year, most received from Jaindl Farms in Pennsylvania.

“There’s a spike in donations during the holiday season,” said Shamia Holloway, communications manager at the Capital Area Food Bank. “People are thinking about hunger.”

But in these tough economic times, there has also been a spike in need. The demand for food has risen by 25 percent in the past four years, Holloway said. Charities and helping agencies all over the region and the nation are seeing more people in need of food. And there are new faces in those lines.

“The face of hunger has changed,” said Holloway. The Capital Area Food Bank has always helped poor and working-poor people. Now former members of the middle class have joined the ranks of the needy.

These are people who have never been to a food bank before, said Holloway. “We’ve even had former donors coming back to ask for food,” she said.

This year, the Capital Area Food Bank has distributed 30 million pounds of food – up from 27 million pounds last year, said Holloway. More than 10 million pounds has been fresh produce.

The Capital Area Food Bank serves more than 478,000 people each year, nearly half of them children. But the food bank doesn’t get all that food into the hands of hungry people by itself. It is the grub-hub in D.C. for 700 partner agencies such as food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, church outreach programs, afterschool programs, and many more. Without the food bank, many of these organizations wouldn’t be able to feed their clients.

“We purchase more than half of our food from the food bank,” said Greg Bloom, a spokesman for Bread for the City, a nonprofit that offers free food, clothing distribution, primary medical care, legal counseling and social services to more than 10,000 needy residents a month. “During the holidays, we run a special program called Holiday Helpings, in which we provide each client with a complete holiday meal – a turkey and all the

PHOTO By Kim Kroll

By Kimberly Kroll, intern

“Shoppers” from partner agencies gather food to distribute to the needy. The Capital Area Food Bank warehouse has several sections, including a bulk food section, serving 478,000 people each year.

trimmings. Most of this food we purchase from the food bank, including the turkeys, which I’m told are the leanest and best birds available. It costs us just $29 to provide Holiday Helpings to a family of four.”

Like every other organization, Bread for the City has seen need increase steeply in recent years. Partner agencies don’t want to turn anyone away, said Holloway. So many have been carefully rationing out their food to make it stretch.

The food bank is not federally funded;

it receives most of its food through donations. Donations come from places such as local grocers, local farms, and food drives.

Local supermarkets, such as Safeway and Giant, the food bank’s biggest local grocery partners, donate reclaimed items, products where the packaging may be damaged or dented, but the quality of the food product is unaffected.

Local farms donate or allow the food bank to purchase fresh produce. Food drives sponsored by organizations such as

churches, schools, and federal government groups bring in a large amount of food as well.

The “Feds Feed Families” food drive that ran from June to September this year, for example, brought in over 3,000 pounds of food with the help of government employees.

The food bank is very concerned with the health and safety of its food. It does not accept expired or perishable food donations from the community. Perishable foods such as meats and dairy products, which are purchased by the food bank or obtained by donating partners are brought to the food bank directly, in accordance with food safety guidelines.

The food bank also purchases bulk items from the government through The Emergency Food Assistance Program, where it can obtain these items more cheaply for partner agencies.

This means partner agencies have a wealth of food to choose from; some agencies send representatives to the food bank to “shop” for bulk food. The representative uses a membership card to choose items off of the agency’s shopping list. A food bank employee then takes the list, retrieves the items and brings them to the loading dock.

The bulk food section looks like a warehouse. Stacks upon stacks of cases of food, filled with cans, jars, boxes, even bananas, loom above workers zooming around on forklift machines and pushing flatbeds around to the organized sections to retrieve items.

A second way agencies collect their food from the food bank is more like the traditional trip to the grocery store, but instead

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October 13 - 26, 2010

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Food Bank distributes 30 million pounds of groceries of a small shopping cart, agency representatives push around flatbeds stacked with boxes full of food items. Agencies can handshop in the shopping section of the food bank for smaller items such as meats, dairy products, fresh produce, loaves of bread, boxes of pasta, tuna fish, and more. The agencies can even shop for hygiene items in this section, such as diapers, feminine products, tissues, shaving products, deodorants and the like.

There are limits as to how many of each of these kinds of items can be chosen per agency, and they are set up on shelves or in freezers just as they would be in a normal supermarket, but you can see the bulk food towering behind. When you walk into the food bank storage area, the hand-shopping is located right at the entrance within the huge warehouse, right where the loading docks are.

When the partner agencies come in to shop, they don’t buy the food. The payment made is a maintenance fee, which is 13 cents per pound of food that they take away. That takes care of the utilities to run the food bank facility itself, as well as the transport of food.

The food bank’s reach even stretches beyond the walls of its facility. They host a program to teach agencies how to cook with food bank food, especially bulk items.

Many of the bulk items are staples that can be stretched across many platforms such as tomato sauce and beans. Jodie Balis, coordinator of “Cooking for Health with Capital Area Food Bank,” helps agencies to feel confident that they can serve as many people as possible with the food they take away.

Cynthia Summers from Builders Inc. says the amount of food that she decides to take depends on the number of people that come through the agency and health standards.

“Nutritional value of what we’re giving matters since we only serve Thursdays of every month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and each family can only come once a month,” said Summers.

One of the biggest food drives of the year, “Stuff a Truck,” is held during the holiday season, this year on Dec. 10. At four Giant Food branches, FOX5 and CBS Radio will come and host live entertainment all day for the community, while community members come to the trucks to make donations.

And there is even a special program to help senior citizens throughout the holiday season. Senior citizens receive a holiday bag through a special program called “Bringing in the Birds with Bucks,” as part of the larger Brown Bag program.

PHOTO by Kim Kroll

Continued on page 5

Holiday Brown Bags go out monthly to senior citizens, many of who are fixed incomes. The bags usually contain supplemental food which enables seniors to buy prescription drugs and other needed medications.

Senior citizens can sign up for a monthly brown bag full of supplemental food through a partner agency. Many times senior citizens who are on a fixed income have to choose between buying medicine and buying nutritious food, so the brown bags help to keep them healthy, said Holloway.

The Brown Bag program fills a serious need, agreed Jenna Jones, Volunteer Coordinator of senior services at So Others Might Eat. “We have 57 participants in the Brown Bag program, and that number jumped by 10 people in one year. I call that our growing pains,” she said. Getting the food to the seniors stretches Jones’ resources, but the effort is worthwhile. “That is a whole lot more food to carry in and unload. It’s also a challenge because I need more volunteers to deliver food into the community.”

Senior citizens will receive a holiday bag through a special program called “Bringing in the Birds with Bucks,” as part of the larger Brown Bag program. “ We partnered with the food bank through the Brown Bag program and received 57 seven-pound turkey breasts for each participant. Then we partnered with Harris Teeter and with a corporate donation got more than 50 turkey breasts at a good sale price, and had enough leftover money

to buy 92 pies,” said Jones. “Our real blessing is that we got to provide everyone with a turkey breast this year.”

The additional turkey breasts went to senior citizens who do not participate in the Brown Bag program because they either do not qualify or did not fill out the paperwork, said Jones.

Donations are at their peak during the holiday season but hunger is a year-round concern.

“During the summer people aren’t thinking about giving,” said Holloway. This is a problem because students aren’t in school, and parents are struggling to feed kids when they didn’t have to worry about it before.

Fifty-six percent of the households served by the food bank have at least one working adult, according to Hunger in America 2010, a Mathematica Policy Research study. This shows the need in this economic environment for financial assistance when it comes to hunger.

The food bank’s Kid’s Café section was created to help provide children who take part in free lunch programs at school with nutritious food at times when they’re not in school. Some of the Kid’s Café locations are partner agencies, but also community centers, churches, or even apartment complexes; anywhere that has afterschool programs for kids.

“We don’t just distribute food, we distribute healthy food. They don’t have access to healthy food. The quickest store is a corner store,” said Holloway.

The Kid’s Café program tries to provide the children access to healthy food, while presenting it to them in a way where they’re learning about what they’re eating. Having learned about the food, when they actually like it, the children will go home and say, “Look mom, I like this,” said Holloway.

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October 13 - 26, 2010

Homeless Teen Rides Cross Country Starting this past June, Thomas Jessop, 14, rode his bike from Santa Barbara, California to Washington, D.C., a journey of 4,500 miles.

The trip was in itself a life-changing adventure, but Thomas also had a higher mission: to raise awareness and support for an innovative program that he credits with helping his family and other people Thomas likes to call “half-homeless.” Santa Barbara’s Safe Parking Program allows people who have lost their homes to stay in their vehicles, which they are permitted to park in unused parking lots each night.

The program, operated by the New Beginnings Counseling Center, provides space in 21 different parking lots, made available by local churches, non-profits and government agencies. Currently over 100 people participate in the program, which has allowed Thomas, together with his younger brother, David, and his father, Jess, a disabled Navy veteran, to live in their vehicle, a sky blue, converted school bus, for the past six years.

Other beneficiaries of the program are also disabled, or working low-wage jobs, living in their trucks or cars, struggling daily.

“People don’t realize that average, good normal people are being forced into this situation right now,” said Thomas in an interview. “They don’t realize that these are friends and neighbors.”

The cross-country ride to help the Safe Parking Program grew out of an IronKids competition that Thomas participated in back in May, and a conversation with his dad. “ We d e c i d e d t h a t w e w a n t e d t o make a difference and try to do something good while we’re at it,” said Jessop. “ We w a n t e d t o h e l p t h i s p r o g ra m .”

So in June, they were on the road. With his dad and brother closely following in the bus, Thomas rode his bike from four to 10 hours a day, six days a week.

Since he got to the Capitol, Thomas has lobbied Congress to pass a National Safe Parking Act that would require cities that now prohibit sleeping in vehicles to institute their own Safe Parking Programs. Thomas met with Sen. Barbara Boxer and Sen. Joseph Lieberman, and has had meetings with Nancy Pelosi’s legislative directors. He is working on meeting with other officials but admits it is a challenge. “ The hardest part has been getting through to the congressmen and senators themselves to let them know about this issue,” said Jessop. “People can help by calling their representatives so they’re aware of us and will meet with us.”

Thomas, who has had his high school diploma for two years and hopes to start college next year at University of California,

PHOTOs BY thomas jessop

By Cynthia Santos, intern

Above, 14-year-old Thomas Jessop stands in front of the Capitol as his final destination in his cross-country vogage to lobby Congress to create safe parking programs for the homeless.

Right, Jessop’s father and brother rode behind him the entire 4500 miles, stopping in little towns and major landmarks. The trip lasted five months and was to raise awarness for a Safe Parking Program.

Santa Barbara as a biochemistry major, hopes that his work will help speed the process of creating a national law that requires cities to provide a Safe Parking Program. While getting people to listen to him on Capitol Hill has held challenges, he has found lots of other receptive and enthusiastic audiences along the way.

“I found the passion in Florida when we were there on October 3,” said Thomas.

“There’s where we decided that it’s a national issue. It would be a slow, painful process to change one city at a time and it wouldn’t help the people in a timely matter,” said Thomas.

And on his adventure, he had realizations that not all 14-year-olds have.

“One thing that’s been truly amazing to me through this whole experience is if you look at it as taking one step at a time, the steps are actually doable. But if you look at it as a journey, it seems impossible,” he said. “You may think you’re just one person trying to do

something, but every single major change started with one person standing up and saying this isn’t right and I’m going to make a change.”

Thomas truly believes that every person has the ability to make a difference when they find their passions. His wisdom reaches far beyond his years. The 14-year-old offers some advice, in words that not even young teenager might come up with.

“Find something that you really be-

lieve in. Find something you can be driven about, that you’d be happy to do no matter what,” said Thomas. “Something that calls on every part of you to make a change. You have the raw potential and it’s your choice what you want to do with it.”

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October 13 - 26, 2010

Little People, Big Contribution

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Students at the Community Academy Public Charter School wave to watchers of their Fannie Help the Homeless mini-walk held on November 5.

By Rhonda Green, volunteer The kindergartners at the Community Academy Public Charter School Rand Campus had been preparing for the Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Mini-Walk Program for a little more than a week by engaging in classroom discussions and creating art projects such as Help the Homeless posters and drawings. Nevertheless, it wasn’t until they returned from their mini-walk, which many of the youngsters regarded as a nature walk and “I spy” game, that they began to develop a more profound understanding of the cause.

CAPCS requires uniforms, but on this day, in addition to their red shirts and khaki pants, the CAPCS family, including teachers, staff and students from preschool through fifth grade, stood united in their Fannie Mae Help the Homeless T-shirts.

The 6th annual mini-walk began on Rock Creek Church Road, N.E., up Gallatin Street, through Fort Totten Metro Station and then up Riggs road. The smaller students waved at pedestrians and drivers as they marched, laughed and collected colorful leaves and pebbles on the way.

“The students, because they’re so young, have no idea of the big impact they’re making by participating in the mini-walk,” said one of the Early Childhood educators, who asked that her name be withheld.

When this particular kindergarten class returned to their classroom, there was a discussion about the students’ thoughts about

the walk and their ideas on what it means to be homeless. One student commented, “The walk was too long, and I didn’t even see any homeless people.” Another student said, “I’m going to remind my friends not to laugh or make fun of homeless people when we see them on the street.”

Engaged in a rather studious conversation at this point, this group of about 16 fiveand six-year olds came up with a number of interesting questions like, “what did they do to become homeless?” “why can’t they just find an apartment to live in?” and “why don’t people share with them?”

One child suggested, “they can come to our school and we can share our food from the lunch room with them. We can share our puzzles with them and show them how to play on the monkey bars.”

Whether these young people know it or not, their participation in the Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Mini Walk is a program with a strong history of more than two decades—a program that has raised “more than $80 million for nonprofit organizations dedicated to raising public awareness, serving, preventing and ending homelessness in the D.C. metropolitan area,” according to Fannie Mae. The Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Program hopes that volunteer numbers will continue to climb. As one student from this kindergarten class announced, with his fellow classmates in agreement, “I’m going to walk again next year!”

PHOTO CREDIT

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November 24 - December 7, 2010

Thousands S

Thousands of volunteers turned out on Saturday, Novemb Homeless Walkathon. While figures are still being finalized participants raised $5.8 million for 134 regional non-profit either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

Vendors Gwynette Smith, Jeff McNeil, Robert Warren, Pau in the walk and are pictured below. According to Fannie M people raised funds through last year’s event, by participatin walking in one of 657 community Mini-Walks or by provid part in other related activities. Since 1988, Fannie Mae has its Help the Homeless Program.

But in recent years, the mortgage giant, a government-s as the Federal National Mortgage Association, has itself fa Mae, struggling with huge losses, was taken over by the fede Homeless Walkathon took place, the future of Fannie Mae remained uncertain.

Photos by Jane Cave

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November 24 - December 7, 2010

Step Up to Help the Homeless

ber 20 for Fannie Mae’s annual Help the d for this year’s event, in 2009, DC area t organizations serving people who are

ul Taylor and Terry Warren participated Mae’s own statistics, more than 117,000 ng in the walk on the National Mall, by ding corporate sponsorships or taking raised more than $80 million through

sponsored enterprise formerly known allen upon hard times. In 2008, Fannie eral government. As this year’s Help the e, the nation’s largest mortgage buyer,

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November 24 - December 7, 2010

Vendor Shares His Experience on the Road

By James Davis, vendor As a member of the Faces of the Homeless Speakers’ Bureau for the National Coalition for the Homeless, I get the opportunity to go out on the road sometimes. These trips are a chance to share stories of homelessness with good audiences and to see fascinating parts of the country.

Not long ago, a speaking engagement took a group of us to Erie Community College, in Buffalo, N.Y. The occasion was a fundraiser for a group called Friends of Night People. I, along with Speakers’ Bureau colleague John Harrison and NCH founding director Michael Stoops, talked about the issues that affect the homeless, the causes of homelessness and some potential solutions.

We also told our stories. The program was a way of helping Joe Heary, the executive director of Friends of Night People, raise needed funds to continue to provide services to poor, disabled and elderly people in the Buffalo area.

In addition to the typical services, such as offering meals, clothing and medical help to the needy, Friends of Night People also provides some more unusual yet important kinds of help, such as foot and eye care. It was indeed a pleasure to be part of this event. Having the chance to see Niagara Falls for the first time was an added bonus (and truly spectacular)!

James Davis, a Street Sense vendor and former Street Sense board member, plans to write about his travels with the Speakers’ Bureau in future issues.

Right, vendor James Davis and former intern Mary Yost had a suprise meeting at the National Coalition for the Homeless Speakers’ Bureau event on November 15 at Elon University. Davis was on the panel and Yost said it was great to see him.

Difficulty level: hard

Street Sudoku

Puzzles By David Rubin

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November 24 - December 7, 2010

11

A Letter to Obama Is Bipartisanship Just

By Jeff McNeil, vendor Dear Mr. President, After a five-year journey of being chronically homeless, I have been through social services and justice departments and received aid and assistance from nonprofits while being between unemployed and unemployable. I never felt politics or government played a role in my condition.

However, after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and through the help of DC Medicaid and DC Alliance, I now receive proper treatment and prescribed medications. My life is slowly progressing to where I can be a taxpayer and help others who are experiencing mental illnesses.

Although I am grateful for the services provided for me, I have mixed feelings when I am around homeless people, especially during the holidays, because I know how bad it can be.

At one time, I had nothing but contempt for the homeless; I thought many were sorry excuses of life. Because many of the homeless were black men, my anger really seethed.

I believed those who helped were bleeding hearts that enabled the homeless by providing food and blankets.

But these views were foolish. As I started to understand my illness, I became curious about why a country as rich as ours has people on one side of the spectrum living in $5,000-a-month suites, while those who are sick and cannot take care of themselves literally die on the streets right in front of your doorstep.

One day in October, I walked through Franklin Park and spotted an attractive homeless woman. I began to have a conversation with her, but she was incoherent. I asked her if she did any drugs or alcohol; she said no. I asked, “Do you have somewhere to go?” She replied, “No, I don’t.” It was a warm day, but the temperature was going to drop that night. I felt so sad for her. She had no

blankets or coat, nor did she want to eat anything. She was drinking two two-liter bottles of soda.

I bought her some Chinese food. Nevertheless, she seemed blank and oblivious. She was shaking and trembling as if she had some nervous condition. I suggested she call an emergency service that might take her to a shelter. She said she sleeps at a church.

I decided to go home and get her a pamphlet that provides service information.

When I came back, I had seen her with another woman who was homeless. This made me think that at least she would be safe with another woman there to watch her.

From experience, I could do nothing else.

Even though I thought it was a life-threatening situation for her, the police and hospitals could not do anything without her consent. It is not uncommon for many who are severely mentally ill. I have seen many in some of the severest weather refuse assistance.

The first woman told me that she would go to a shelter to stay, and I went home. A couple of days later, I checked on her. It was much colder that day, and she was still wearing the same thin clothes. She said she did not go to the shelter, and she was in worse condition when I met her. She was shivering and did not eat.

I went home that night wondering how and why this happens in America. This woman obviously could not take care of herself.

There is a high possibility she might die if not helped before winter.

This encounter truly moved me to wonder why, in a democratic society, we put more worth in money than in life. To me, I feel it is murder by the dollar.

I have not seen the woman recently, but I pray for her.

Mr. President, please do not compromise on health care or anything else that will help the people, not just the wealthy and selfseeking.

Although I am grateful for the services provided for me, I have mixed feelings when I am around homeless people, especially during the holidays. I know how bad it can be.

a Pipe Dream?

By Maurice King, volunteer For many of us, the outcome of the 2010 election was an anticlimax. Everybody knew that the economy was suffering, that unemployment remains high, that the huge deficit yawns before us—in short, all the gloom and doom that has beset the United States for years now. The polls predicted that Democrats would lose many seats; the media sang that song as if it were at the top of the charts.

So no one was surprised at the results.

Maybe some gamblers lost some money trying to predict precise numbers, but the basic message was clear: The people were growing impatient with the economic miseries and wanted change.

The problem with wanting “change” is that the word does not really specify what change will happen. We all remember that President Obama campaigned around the message that he would work to bring change to Washington; whether or not he delivered on that promise is the subject for another discussion.

Now the voting public had spoken in the only manner possible for them, and they expressed their unhappiness with the direction the country was pursuing. The only real choice they had was to make changes in the Congress personnel through an election.

The limitation of this voting option is that the choices of candidates are pretty much limited to candidates from the two major parties, Democratic and Republican. If the polls are an accurate indication of the mood of the public, the voters were not really happy with either party’s platform and had little confidence in the parties’ ability to make the changes that they wanted.

But what does a voter do when neither side inspires confidence? The option of not voting at all is not very responsible.

Independent candidates, as well as candidates from the smaller parties, do exist; but without the backing of a major party, the chances of being elected are much slimmer as a rule.

So in worst-case scenarios, a flip of a

coin may make the decision.

Was this the case in the election? It seems doubtful, but the information gathered indicated that discontent was high and trust in elected officials was low.

Now comes the question: What sort of changes can we expect? The Republican Party has already pledged to repeal the health care law; one Republican stated outright that their goal is to prevent Obama from being re-elected in 2012.

That does not change the fact that Obama is the President and still has the power of veto if the Republicans try to undo the things that the Obama Administration has succeeded in creating in the past two years. Knowing that he has an unfavorable Congress to deal with, Obama may be exercising that veto power much more often than he has to date.

If he does, the result will be stagnation.

Will that be the fate of the United States? To remain in limbo because a party is hellbent on ousting the President and undoing everything he has done?

Stagnation in government is something the people of the United States can ill afford.

What have we done? Nothing positive, it would seem. The United States needs a functional government to come out of its current quandary, and from the looks of things, that’s something the United States does not have now.

It is folly to expect the parties to modify their platforms. Compromise and cooperation are words that seem to have little meaning, if indeed the elected officials even know the meaning of the words. Bipartisanship seems like a pipe dream at best.

So where will all this end? Sorry, there’s no crystal ball here to help us see what the future may hold. What is clear, however, is that the public is in need of some positive signs that matters of the economy and employment will improve. But will the parties work together on these matters or continue to do battle with one another at the expense of the public? The answer is something that the public deserves to know.

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S treetS ense.org

November 24 - December 7, 2010

Vendors Give Thanks This Holiday Season

By Mandie Toomey

A

s the brightly colored leaves begin to carpet the ground and our breath leads us down the street, it’s time to admit the holiday season is almost here. On a crisp morning following a day of rain, I talked with Street Sense vendors to find out whey are thankful for this year.

James Davis: “I’m thankful for my Street Sense customers who have made it a pleasure to sell the paper throughout the year.”

Lawrence Autry, III: “Really I’m thankful for so many things: waking up this morning, having a place to stay, and having good health. I’m happy it seems like a lot of people like me.”

Robert McCray: “I am thankful to be living, to wake up every day, and to have a roof over my head.”

James Davis

Veda Simpson

Tommy Bennett: “I’m thankful for housing and for my seven years clean. I’m thankful for my friend Kristina who gives me strength to go on, and thankful for those people who have helped me along the way. I’m thankful for the Thanksgiving holiday coming up, and I hope everyone has a great holiday like I hope to have.”

Lawrence Autry, III

Veda Simpson: “I thank the Lord for helping me be still and wait for the miracle. I am thankful for another day of living and for the opportunity to help other homeless people and animals. If I can help someone else, my life is not in vain.”

David Denny

David Denny: “I’m thankful I’m alive. Thankful there’s a God because if there wasn’t I might not be alive. I’m thankful for the season of Thanksgiving. I’m glad I’m here, sober but sick, to celebrate Thanksgiving and eat turkey with loved ones. And even though it’s been challenging every day, I’m glad the addiction is under control. I’m happy to be alive.”

Robert McCray

Franklin Sterling: “I’m thankful for Street Sense and for Mary Otto. And I’m grateful for our Olympic athletes who took over in Vancouver and gave us such inspiration; grateful for the NASA scientists for their role in saving the Chilean miners. I’m grateful for pilot Chelsey B. Sullenberger for not aggrandizing himself and for acting normal even though he’s a hero”

Franklin Sterling

Evelyn Nnam: “I’m thankful to God for guiding me, and I thank God for this job. It’s helping bring money to me. I want to thank my God for what he has done.”

Tommy Bennett

Jeffery McNeil: “I’m thankful for food on the table, a warm place to go, and family.”

Evelyn Nnam

S treetS ense.org

November 24 - December 7, 2010

Thanksgiving

By Veda Simpson, vendor This is the time of year that I want to give special thanks to our higher power for bringing me this far and not leaving me.

Bringing me through all my trials and tribulations of my life.

He’ll put no more on you than you can bear. I have no children, but he has blessed me with his creatures for love and companionship, a roof over my head, shoes on my feet and food to eat.

I am able to help those who are in the same difficulties I was in.

All you have to do is stay still and wait for the miracle.

If I can help someone, then my life is not in vain.

In the name of Jesus and by the power and authority he has invested in me, on this day and at this time, I send a cancellation notice to everything and anything preplanned to attack my joy, my health, my family and any of my future blessings.

I am standing by the Word of God, using my measure of faith. No matter what, there is nothing too hard for God.

Be

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Blessings Everywhere

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By Richard Embden, vendor Where will your blessings come from?

Do you know?

I think not.

If you knew, you would be God. Only He knows where all the blessings He has in store can be found.

You don’t know.

So always be on the lookout for God’s blessings.

They are all around you, every place, every time.

God is in the blessing business, all the time and everywhere.

His blessings are unlimited.

So don’t limit Him. Stop focusing on problems.

Problems are blessings in disguise.

Every problem is an opportunity to be blessed.

We can grow and be strengthened through the struggle.

Ask yourself as well as your heavenly father: Where is the opportunity to be blessed or to be a blessing?

Do you have little of this world’s goods? Or do you have much?

Give some away.

Better to give than receive.

When you give, God has more room to bless.

ful

Frost Comes to the Eastern Shore

By Chris Shaw, vendor The gray fox tipped in red— Is it paint or simply fur?— Crouches in reeds limned by Frozen moisture.

Across the nearby water, Cold yet not stilled, Mergansers—or Are they Grebes?— Send ripples pushing outward, Ever outward, To the shore.

Farther away, two sad fishermen Drop their lines, saying nothing.

Meanwhile, the intent fox Awaits the ducks and more.

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November 24 - December 7, 2010

www.listentothebody.com

Vendor of the Month

Volunteer of the Month

Congratulations to Sybil Taylor, October’s Vendor of the Month! Sybil sells Street Sense on K Street between 19th and 20th Streets NW, and is a favorite of many who work in the busy area surrounding the Farragut North metro.

Sybil was nominated by a reader who regularly buys from her. One supporter shared: “She is always courteous and greets you with a smile. Her chipper attitude does not change, even when it is cold, very hot, raining, or early in the morning. I will always enjoy buying my papers from Sybil and I know that I am not the only person on K and 19th who feels that way!”

A lifelong DC resident, Sybil started selling Street Sense in July 2008 when another vendor approached her on the street and told her about the vendor program. She regularly contributes poetry to the newspaper, most recently publishing a set of Halloween poems in our October 2010 issue. She is also active in spreading the word about the Street Sense mission. Over the summer, she appeared on channel 8 in a feature program about Street Sense. Sybil works part-time as a caretaker for senior citizens, and is in search of full-time, permanent employment. Her faith is an integral part of her growth, and has helped her cope with homelessness and work towards recovery.

Congratulations to Mike Plunkett, October’s Volunteer of the Month! Mike volunteers in our office Thursday mornings, selling papers to our vendors and providing administrative support in the office.

He has played an invaluable role in our design and layout team, working closely with the editorial staff to develop an exciting new layout for the paper in 2011 Mike is a Southern California native who's lived in D.C. for close to three years. Most of his career has been in journalism, working for four newspapers, with a current stay at the Washington Post.He has also worked in the non-profit and higher education sector.

He holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Southern California. His interests include film, music, books, the quest for the perfect cup of coffee and museums. Mike got got involved with Street Sense through the Washington Journalism Center.

Mike says, “It's been good developing relationships with the vendors and the fellow staff and volunteers and it has helped expand my own awareness and hopefully, deepened my own compassion for those in need and the need for continual individual and societal change.”

Each month, Street Sense features a vendor of the month and a volunteer of the month. We encourage readers and supporters to submit nominations based on excellence in citizenship, sales, customer service, and commitment to achieving personal goals.

Nominations are accepted on a rolling basis- send to amy@streetsense.org

Massage Therapy Elizabeth Bourne, LMT Adams Morgan 202.253.0941 30% off 1st massage with this ad

FOUNDRY A Reconciling Congregation Invites you to join us in worship on Sundays at 9:30 and 11:00 AM Homeless Outreach Hospitality: Fridays 9:00 AM

Foundry United Methodist Church

1500 16th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036 (202) 332-4010

www.foundryumc.org

A new issue comes out every two weeks, but you can stay connected to Street Sense every day:

Follow us on

acebook : www.facebook.com/streetsense : www.youtube.com/streetsensedc and witter : streetsensedc ...and, as always, find us online at www.streetsense.org.

S treetS ense.org WASHINGTON, D.C. SHELTER Calvary Women’s Services 110 Maryland Ave, NE (202) 289-0596 (office) (202) 289-2111 (shelter) www.calvaryservices.org Central Union Mission (Men) 1350 R Street, NW (202) 745–7118 www.missiondc.org CCNV (Men and Women) 425 2nd Street, NW (202) 393–1909 users.erols.com/ccnv/ Community of Hope (Family) 1413 Girard Street, NW (202) 232–7356 www.communityofhopedc.org

November 24 - December 7, 2010 Charlie’s Place 1830 Connecticut Avenue, NW (202) 232–3066 www.stmargaretsdc.org/charliesplace Church of the Pilgrims (Sundays only) 2201 P Street, NW (202) 387–6612 www.churchofthepilgrims.org Thrive DC (breakfast Mon-Fri, 9:30-11, all welcome/dinner for women and children, Mon-Fri, 3-6 pm) St. Stephens Parish Church 1525 Newton St, NW (202) 737–9311 www.thrivedc.org Food and Friends 219 Riggs Road, NE (202) 269–2277 www.foodandfriends.org

Covenant House Washington (Youth) 2001 Mississippi Ave SE (202) 610–9600 www.covenanthousedc.org Housing, education, job prep

Miriam’s Kitchen 2401 Virginia Avenue, NW (202) 452–8089 www.miriamskitchen.org

John Young Center (Women) 119 D Street, NW (202) 639–8469 www,catholiccharitiesdc.org

The Welcome Table Church of the Epiphany 1317 G Street, NW (202) 347–2635 http://www.epiphanydc.org/ ministry/welcometbl.htm

My Sister’s Place PO Box 29596 Washington, DC 20017 office (202) 529-5261 24-hour hotline (202)-529-5991 shelter and other services for domestic violence victims N Street Village (Women) 1333 N Street, NW (202) 939–2060 www.nstreetvillage.org 801 East, St. Elizabeths Hospital (Men) 2700 MLK Avenue, SE (202) 561–4014 New York Ave Shelter (Men 18+) 1355–57 New York Avenue, NE (202) 832–2359 Open Door Shelter (Women) 425 Mitch Snyder Place, NW (202) 639–8093

FOOD

MEDICAL RESOURCES Christ House 1717 Columbia Road, NW (202) 328–1100 www.christhouse.org Unity Health Care, Inc. 3020 14th Street, NW (202) 745–4300 www.unityhealthcare.org Whitman–Walker Clinic 1407 S Street, NW (202) 797–3500; www.wwc.org

OUTREACH CENTERS Bread for the City 1525 Seventh Street, NW (202) 265–2400 AND 1640 Good Hope Road, SE (202) 561–8587 www.breadforthecity.org food pantry, clothing, legal and social services, medical clinic Community Council for the

Homeless at Friendship Place 4713 Wisconsin Avenue NW (202) 364–1419; www.cchfp.org housing, medical and psych care, substance abuse and job counseling Bethany Women’s Center 1333 N Street, NW (202) 939–2060 http://www.nstreetvillage.org meals, hygiene, laundry, social activities, substance abuse treatment Father McKenna Center 19 Eye Street, NW (202) 842–1112 Green Door (202) 464–9200 1221 Taylor Street NW www.greendoor.org housing, job training, supportive mental health services Friendship House 619 D Street, SE (202) 675–9050 www.friendshiphouse.net counseling, mentoring, education, youth services, clothing

71 “O” Street, NW (202) 797–8806; www.some.org lunch, medical and dental, job and housing counseling

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Academy of Hope GED Center 601 Edgewood St NE 202-269-6623 www.aohdc.org Bright Beginnings Inc. 128 M Street NW, Suite 150 (202) 842–9090 www.brightbeginningsinc.org Child care, family services Catholic Community Services 924 G Street, NW (202) 772–4300 www.ccs–dc.org umbrella for a variety of services D.C. Coalition for the Homeless 1234 Massachusetts Avenue, NW (202) 347–8870; www.dccfh.org housing, substance abuse treatment, employment assistance DC Food Finder Interactive online map of free and low cost resources. www.dcfoodfinder.org

training and employment Jubilee Jobs 1640 Columbia Road, NW (202) 667–8970 www.jubileejobs.org job preparation and placement National Coalition for the Homeless 2201 P Street, NW (202) 462–4822 www.nationalhomeless.org activists, speakers bureau

114 W. Montgomery Avenue Rockville (301) 762–8682 www.iworksmc.org The Samaritan Group Inc. P.O. Box 934, Chestertown (443) 480–3564 Warm Night Shelter 311 68th Place, Seat Pleasant (301) 499–2319 www.cmpgc.org

FOOD National Student Partnerships (NSP) 128 M Street NW, Suite 320 (202) 289–2525 washingtondc@nspnet.org Job resource and referral agency Samaritan Ministry 1345 U Street, SE , AND 1516 Hamilton Street, NW (202)889–7702 www.samaritanministry.org HIV support, employment, drug/ alcohol addiction, healthcare St. Luke’s Episcopal Church 1514 15th Street, NW (202) 667–4394 http://stlukesdc.edow.org food, counseling

Bethesda Cares 7728 Woodmont Avenue Bethesda (301) 907–9244 www.bethesdacares.com Community Place Café 311 68th Place, Seat Pleasant (301) 499–2319; www.cmpgc.org Manna Food Center 614–618 Lofstrand Lane, Rockville (301) 424–1130 www.mannafood.org

MEDICAL RESOURCES Community Clinic, Inc. 8210 Colonial Lane Silver Spring (301) 585–1250 www.cciweb.org

Georgetown Ministry Center 1041 Wisconsin Avenue, NW (202) 338–8301 www.georgetownministrycenter. org laundry, counseling, psych care

Community Family Life Services 305 E Street, NW (202) 347–0511 www.cflsdc.org housing, job and substance abuse counseling, clothes closet

Martha’s Table 2114 14th Street, NW (202) 328–6608 www.marthastable.org dinner, education, recreation, clothing, child/family services

Foundry Methodist Church 1500 16th Street, NW (202) 332–4010 www.foundryumc.org ESL, lunch, clothing, IDs

Travelers Aid, Union Station 50 Massachusetts Avenue, NE (202) 371–1937 www.travelersaid.org/ta/dc.html emergency travel assistance

Gospel Rescue Ministries drug, alcohol program (Men) 810 5th Street, NW (202) 842–1731; www.grm.org

Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless 1200 U Street, NW (202) 328–5500 www.legalclinic.org

Catholic Charities, Maryland 12247 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring (301) 942–1790 www.catholiccharitiesdc.org shelter, substance abuse treatment, variety of other services

WVSA Literacy for Life 1100 16th Street, NW (202) 296-9100 www.wvsarts.org GED preparation and work force education

Mission of Love 6180 Old Central Avenue, Capitol Heights (301)333–4440 www.molinc.org life skills classes, clothing, house-

Rachel’s Women’s Center 1222 11th Street, NW (202) 682–1005 http://www.ccdsd.org/howorwc. php hygiene, laundry, lunch, phone and mail, clothing, social events Sasha Bruce Youthwork 741 8th Street, SE (202) 675–9340 www.sashabruce.org counseling, housing, family services So Others Might Eat (SOME)

Hermano Pedro Day Center 3211 Sacred Heart Way, NW (202) 332–2874 http://www.ccs–dc.org/find/services/ meals, hygiene, laundry, clothing JHP, Inc. 1526 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE (202) 544–9126 www.jobshavepriority.org

St. Matthew’s Cathedral 1725 Rhode Island Avenue, NW (202) 347–3215 ext. 552 breakfast, clothing, hygiene

MARYLAND SHELTER Interfaith Works

Mobile Medical Care, Inc. 9309 Old Georgetown Road Bethesda (301) 493–2400 www.mobilemedicalcare.org

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Shelter

Hotline: 1–800–

November 24 - December 7, 2010 The Last Word For this Last Word, we wanted to express our gratitude to our readers, donors and volunteers who help vendors every day to help themselves in a society where bootstraps don’t exist for some. Thank you for buying our paper, for reading it and recycling it. We couldn’t do this without you. We present to you a poem by vendor Sybil Taylor to sum up our thoughts about what we think the world should be like like every day of the year.

Lisa Gillespie, managing editor

Thanksgiving

By Sybil Taylor, vendor

The Last Word

S treetS ense.org

Government of the District of Columbia t Department of Human Services

My Bridges Over

HELP

A day of thanks BRING FAMILIES WHO ARE HOMELESS IN FROM THE COLD A day of love A day of giving FAMILY SHELTERS A day of sharing Families seeking shelter must go to the Virginia Williams Family A day of caring Resource Center, 920–A Rhode Island Avenue, NE, on Monday SHELTER HOTLINE A day to give to those who are less fortunate. through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. At other times, call A joyful Thanksgiving with loved ones 1.800.535.7252 the Shelter Hotline at 1-800-535-7252 or 311.

Friends, family, all over the world Shop | Eat | Explore miDCity Shop | Eat | Explore OR 311| miDCity To rejoice the meaning of Thanksgiving.

Those who are | homeless may call the| numbers for assistance, To be thankful for all the food, love, appreciation, from all those the general public may call the numbers to seek | assistance | Eat | Explore and | miDCity | Shop | Eat Explore | miDCity | Shop around. for someone who is homeless and in need of help.

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Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Lots of fun for everybody this season.

To be truly thankful for a day of thanks, | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore | miDCity | Shop | Eat | Explore And giving much love to everyone this Thanksgiving.

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