Thoughts from a Tuesday Night
I will post some thoughts on the developments in the Flight 253 case later, but right now I want to share with you what I did Tuesday night. I had been called several days ago by Sharon Thomas-Hearns, the incredible PR person for Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission, if I would like to volunteer one night with their Rescue Wagon, which distributes clothes, blankets, food, toiletries, etc to Seattle’s homeless. I said yes and asked Ichabod Caine, formerly of KMPS, if he’d like to join me. He accepted immediately.
So, last night, two has-been celebrities went out with other volunteers to help the homeless. It was an incredible experience, one which taught me a lot about our homeless situation here in Seattle and reinforced my knowledge of the good that Union Gospel Mission does. Later today, I hope to post some video taken with my Flip ( I am slowly entering the 21st Century ) but I will try to relate verbally in this posting some of what I saw and learned.
We visited four sites over two-and-a-half hours before we simply ran out of everything. The van pulled up, we opened the doors and the homeless gathered for whatever we had to give them. Blankets went quickly, as did the ten or so jackets we had. Hot chocolate was popular, the sandwiches and bags of Cheetos went fast. Hand warmers and scarfs were in demand, and many asked for plastic bags, which we didn’t have, to carry their meager belongings. Almost all of them were polite and said thank you, they asked if they could take more than one sandwich or pair of socks ( they can ), nobody pushed into line or shoved others out of the way. The volunteers knew many by name and checked up on them, some victims of previous violence, some obviously longtime residents of the streets. It was a rewarding experience, one I will repeat.
Of the homeless on our streets, 90% are there because of drug and alcohol abuse and mental illness. The treatment options are limited, and, to be honest, as long as we can’t force people who need them into them, it wouldn’t make much difference if we spent ten times as much as we do on treatment programs. So, it falls on us to help where and when we can. We, you and me, need to be the Good Samaritan, who helped the victim with his own money and time
My thanks to Dave and Steven and Sharon for including me, and for all the work they do, every day and every night. They are outstanding examples of faith in action, of what Christian charity and love really are. And, my special thanks to my good friend and brother Ichabod Caine who was there with us. God bless you brother, we have become good friends in a short amount of time, and I am proud to call you my friend and brother.
And, let me say to whoever reads this, Union Gospel Mission can use you. Check out their website at www.ugm.org, or call Sharon at 206-723-0767 to help. They are $600,000 short his year, due to reduced giving in this economy. Every dollar, every hour you can give will be spent effectively and properly. If you can help, please do. They are doing God’s work, the work He told us to do, and they need us to continue doing it. And, if you have some spare time in the next month or so, and want to spend some time on the streets with me, let me know.
16 Responses to “Thoughts from a Tuesday Night”
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Melanie says:
All I have to say is God bless both of you. I miss you, now Ichabod terribly. I listened to the former radio station you worked for on Monday just to hear you.
Celebrity has beens? Bah!!!
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Susan Schmidt says:
GOD bless you Kirby and Icabod for taking the time to help. This is one cause I help when I can. Right now I am unemployed and have been since June but the Seattle or Everett Union Gospel Mission is who I try to help when I can with a bit of money. I no longer help causes that are outside of the US as I believe right here at home is where we need to help first and right now it is cold out there.
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Vaughn says:
Kirby,
When are you going to tell us if we’re going to to here you on local (Puget Sound) radio again. I have a hard time believing your not being wooed by one of the local stations. You don’t have to give details just let us know if we can take another breath and breath easy again. We miss you Brother.God Bless,
Vaughn -
fred says:
GOOD ON YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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GOOD ON YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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GOOD ON YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Meishelle Haverkamp says:
I support Union Gospel Mission, but wasn’t able to donate money this year due to unemployment. I would love to volunteer with you. Just tell me when. Thanks, Kirby, for leading by example!
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velta benson says:
Thank you for doing this and passing on to us the information. I would like to donate clothes – 3 closets full of coats we don’t use, but hesitate to give to NW for Retarded and others who “sell” to places that “sell” and so my good clothes are not used by those for whom I gave them…. Money is harder to come by these days but we all have “stuff” and even blankets that might be donated,…..
So how do we do that. thank you.
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steve says:
I was pleased to hear you on the Hannity morning radio show. I miss you in the morning. Its like coffee in the morning, If you don’t have some, the day feels incomplete. Union Gospel mission does Gods work, and glad you are staying involved in the community. I am sure God has plans for you…God Bless.
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Linda says:
Kirby,
Why not form your own group to go there and hand items out? Counts us in if you do! Although we are both unemployed, I know there are things we can do to help.
Linda & Al
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Cherie says:
Bless you, Kirby. We’ve just donated funds to Union Gospel Mission because of your blog. Look everyday to see what you are thinking….thank you for focusing our thoughts on them and all their great work!
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Beth says:
I love the Union Gospel Mission. Thank you for relating this event in your life with us. You, and Ichabod, will always be celebs to me, and to many of us who really appreciate everything you do for our community.
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Ed Longstreth says:
I respect your compassion put into action and would like to volunteer sometime with you. Let me know when I can join you sometime in the future. I miss you on the radio and would like to hear you sometime in Tacoma. Keep up the effort to reach us all.
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Charles says:
Excellent Kirby! I would like to mention the Tacoma Rescue Mission which is a similar Christian resource for the homeless and needy in greater Pierce County. Give David Curry a call, or Julie Washburn at “Need a Break” which is a ministry of the TRM.
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Susan Murphy says:
Hey Kirby. I would love to come up some day when you (and perhaps Ichabod too, as I really enjoyed his show too) are planning to head out. Just let us know and I expect you’ll have a large group. I suggest we all bring an un-used coat or blanket or a pack of socks with us to add to what’s been donated.
Great to hear you on the radio last week, and I hope that will be a regular thing again soon.
Cheers,
Susan Murphy
Dear Wilbur Kirby
Thank you for your post, for it allows me the opportunity to reach out to the Union Gospel Mission. You see, along with the words you said “We, you and me, need to be the Good Samaritan, who helped the victim ….” this was a part of the inspiration in my heart to start my non-profit org, Comfort Socks.
Comfort Socks is a 501(c)3 public charity that provides new socks to homeless shelters all across the United States.
Aside from the obvious hygiene benefits of new socks for homeless people and families, our mission is one of Comfort. We believe that new socks simply feel good, and will help tend to the soul as well as the body of someone going through a difficult time.
I will email Union Gospel Mission and offer our help – and thank you, again, for your post. It is the greatest honor I have, to serve our Lord, by serving those in need.
God Bless You
In His Care & Service
Theresa Tese
Founder and Executive Director
Comfort Socks
910-269-8577
http://www.comfortsocksonline.org
http://comfortsocks.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/Comfortsocks
If you feel so moved, would you spread the word about our mission?