One day in the Woods

Every Monday is an adventure in patience, compassion, no judgement and above all unconditional love. As Sandy and I make our way to the camps and under the bridges we encounter great sadness and despair. We met at Middlebury Chapel, which just hours after 120 people gathered with us for a cook out on Saturday, was hit by a car. Demolished are the front steps, the railings, the foundation, yet a homeless couple still managed to get to the landing to sleep that night.

We encounter one of our dear friends that told us about the weekends happenings, and the bad fire at one of the other camps. The fire was arson, destroying a couples camp and all of their belongings. From the story we heard it was retaliation from another homeless person who apparently was stolen from. It never ceases to amaze me the anger and street justice among their own “neighbors”. While at this camp we encounter our friend M who is 8 months pregnant. She is crying, filthy dirty, no shoes, proceeds to tell us she is crying because one of her kittens is dying.

Animals in the woods are very sad as well, the owners love them, however some unable to care for themselves also have a difficult time with proper animal care. Ten puppies born to Honey and King are growing fast and as I remind them weekly, they are in need of shots, leashes and collars and training.

As we made our way to our last stop, we encountered a hillside of tents and new campers, 7 black men a few white guys and women ! Sandy and I looked at each other like WHAT IS GOING ON HERE !! We had enough food left for 7 but really needed more. Friends we came to visit told us of the need for rat traps as the rats under the bridge and the raccoons are a huge nuisance. We will try to get them a couple traps.

This week we took out 70 lunches and could easily have given away 80 +. There are more people living in the woods, under bushes, near trash dumpsters today in the city of Akron than ever before.