VENDOR WRITING
More Opportunities for the Homeless BY SUZANNE S, CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR When I was homeless in Little Rock, Ark. for almost four years, the main thing that got me through and filled me with hope, was a program that a man and his wife started with only one van. They named it “The Van,” and offered supplies that anyone in the street could use. They operated solely on donations of food,
clothing, hygiene, medications, blankets, sleeping bags and tents. They would drive around in neighborhoods where the homeless were known to gather. Over the years as I watched it grow as many more volunteers, more vans, operated days of different areas for help. They expanded from their house as a storage
to a warehouse. Once people started hearing about their services the word would spread very quickly. I think that such a program is in dire need here in Nashville. I think that many of the homeless population would benefit greatly from such wonderful resources. I believe that just dinners and clothes closets aren’t reachable to most of
this community. I believe that the things you require when you are homeless are not really thought of until you are in the situation yourself. When most businesses or people donate things they are not in the right mindset. Sometimes something as little as a roll of toilet paper, deodorant or even Tylenol for a migraine makes all the difference in
how much they can do. I remember when my shoes were stolen once from me as I was sleeping on a sidewalk. “The Van,” came right through as I was walking barefooted and gave me sandals for my feet. They never require ID, for some it’s their face they would recognize, they would get to know them as people, not the forgotten.
My Mouse Friend Lost B Y J U N E P. , C O N T R I B U T O R V E N D O R
In Loving Memory of My Precious Presley April 6, 2015- June 9, 2022 BY JAMIE W, CON T RIBU T OR VENDOR I just can’t believe my Presley is gone. I miss her so much. In April or May, Presley tested positive for feline leukemia, she did okay for a while and then she started getting sick again. I can not say how upsetting this is, I wish she was still here. I have been crying over her for the last three weeks and this last time I had to take her to the vet, she was dragging her back legs and I told the vet, “let’s see how she does in a couple of days and if she does not show any improvement i will have to put her to sleep.” God this is killing me, I don’t understand she was seven years old, I will be missing her, I just ask God to keep her safe and that I love her. This is so hard for me, I begged Tommy not to put her in the ground and he said that we have too. What can I say, I just want her back. I would
do anything to her her back, I can’t believe this I am so broken, all i can do is pray I know she was loved by Tommy, Lucy Kiley, Emma and I. We will miss her so much Riley, Emma, and Lucy miss her so much. I just wish this was a bad dream, I can’t believe she is gone. I say a prayer for Presley Evernight, I would give anything, “I want my Presley,” I think about her everyday and since she past away morning times are very hard for me but she will always be loved by me. I am doing the best that I can, we will miss her a whole lot. She was such a great cat but I wasn't gonna stand around and watch her suffer and struggle. Tommy and I did the best we could, the vet also did all they could do for her. She was my toot toot, I would called her that sometimes.
Got up this morning, slept in of course. My mouse friend was not here, “where could he be?” I looked everywhere, No Mouse, and went on a walk. I love walking. But I needed to find my mouse friend, I walked and walked and walked and my mouse friend was nowhere to be seen. Then I thought, “where would he be on a hot summer day.” “In the pool? Well, maybe in the lake?” There my Mouse Friend was in the lake. My friend was very upset with me. I said, “Why?” my mouse friend. My friend said, “I am hot!” so we both got in the lake. Then, my mouse friend said that's not all. I said, “What now?” “cracker and cheese or cheese toes?” My mouse friend said, “no food this time, but that sounds good.” Then my friend said, “We've been friends for like five years now and I call you cricket, but cricket you have never named me. Are we really friends?” Ok, this is for you out there dear readers, please help me name my mouse friend. Sex wise it does not matter, boy or girl. And this is how you help me, please, please The Contributor takes Venmo, and if you look in the left hand corner of your paper you'll see the Venmo stamp. Come by Belmont Blvd and Gale Lane and see me with my good, great people here at the grocery store and go on Venmo and put June P #2509 as the description and buy a paper from me. In this heat I’m out early 8:30 or 9 till 12 noon. I was on oxygen so me and this weather are not good. Oh I love the summer, not this humbled so please come see me Monday - Sunday or venmo me at June P #2509. You have a Bless Day. From Cricket and my Mouse Friend
PAGE 20 | August 17 - 31, 2022 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE