I Need A Place To Stay Tonight, Can You Help Me?
My phone rings at my office desk. “Kaitlyn, we have a homeless family here, can you help?” Tony greets me with a smile and a handshake, this is my family and two kids, we don’t have a place to stay tonight, can you help us? These are our two kids, me and my wife came to Charlotte and walked to your building.
Dear God, please make something happen as I call number after number in my phone. My prayers grow more frequent as I call down my phone list starting at A. I call my friends that I know can help me, emergency housing apparently is hard to find, especially since the thermometer hit below 32. Finally, I start calling the homeless shelters, they all are full, but they have plenty of places on the floor. Spratt street starts looking like an incredible option, and I would gladly sleep on the floor as opposed to sleeping outside if it was me. Brenda calls me back, she works with a street ministry downtown and they might be able to put them up for a day or two in hotel.
Four hours later, we pick them up from the park down the street, taking them to McDonalds was the gameplan while we talked to them about their situation. “There are no jobs in Charlotte” Brenda says. I silently pray not knowing what else to say, but God knows exactly what to say to Brenda.
We drop them off at a hotel off of west sugar in the middle of Charlotte. 40 dollars a night, with a hotel room with barely running electricity. It’s good for now, because it’s bedtime for their 3 and 5 year old. But what happens next? 4 days is what they have to get a job, or come across some other people that will help them. But this is their choice, being homeless for them is what they choose, based on their past records and story.
But Jesus was homeless, and he didn’t judge, he said all who who labor and are burdened come take rest.
Posted on January 7, 2013, in homelessness, poverty, starving, Uncategorized and tagged Fast food, food, global poverty, god, homelessness, hotel, jesus, love, motel, national poverty, needy, poverty. Bookmark the permalink. 3 Comments.
Hi Kaitlyn. I’ve been reading your blog and have seen a few articles about you online and heard you are part of the freegan community. I go to Johnson and Wales and am currently working on a project for a food and culture class. The topic we are researching is about the freegan movement and dumspter diving. I was hoping you’d have time to answer a few questions to help with the project. If you have a chance please send me an email. Thank you so much!
Sure !!!! I actually spoke there about a year and a half ago. My phone number is 828-450-3389 if you want to call me !
-Kaitlyn
Thats awesome! Sorry to get back to you so late, was working long weekends for restaurant week. I will try you on Monday if you would be available. Thanks again!