| Join in, become aware, you may be surprised by | | | | "I was about 10 when I began to run away. I just |
| what you learn. Who is that person you pass | | | | wanted to get away from the house. I would go |
| everyday on your way into the office? In the | | | | to the playground and hide," she said. "It's tough |
| heat he/she sits there sweating. In the evening he | | | | out here. I miss having a life." |
| she rolls out their cardboard to make a bed. | | | | "I hate when people laugh or make fun of me. |
| When it rains the spot is empty. | | | | I've had people throw stuff at me. I miss having a |
| At nine in the morning, the line at the Catholic | | | | car, or anywhere or anything that is mine. I have |
| Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, on Martin | | | | a few things stashed over by Luckie Street |
| Luther King, Jr. Drive, SW, stretches to the | | | | where I've found a place to sleep." |
| corner as a hundred men and women wait politely | | | | "There are about 50 million places to sleep in |
| for coffee and a sack lunch prepared by | | | | Atlanta, like right here under this roof, unless |
| kindergartners at a local parochial school. The bags | | | | someone tells you to move on. There are some |
| are decorated with a five-year-olds' art. Some | | | | abandoned buildings that we can get into. The |
| have a sandwich, chips and a drink. A rare few | | | | shelters are a joke. Gateway charges $7 a day |
| have carrots or a banana. One or two have just | | | | and I don't feel safe there" said Aiesha. |
| candy. | | | | Mayo, 30 something, has been on the street two |
| A 20 something man with a U.S. Marine cap on | | | | months, since he lost his job at a restaurant. He is |
| gives a broad smile when his lunch includes an | | | | clean and neat. If he were any other place, say a |
| apple. Four men are in the kitchen preparing | | | | mall, it would be impossible to think that he might |
| sandwiches to hand out once the 50 lunches are | | | | be homeless. He is willing to take any work. He |
| gone to their doom clutched in someone's hands. | | | | desperately wants to get off the streets and be |
| Leo, Dave, Willie and Richard introduce themselves | | | | with his family. |
| and share how good they feel volunteering to | | | | "There is nothing good about being homeless, I'm |
| help others. Bryan Anthony, the Outreach | | | | hungry and I hate to sleep on the streets. I am |
| Director, keeps everyone on task to have the | | | | used to working and I want to work," said Mayo. |
| doors open on time. The trays of bagged lunches | | | | "I expect to get a job, get a roommate, and get |
| wait on a table by the door. A leaky coffee pot | | | | an apartment soon. In the meantime I am using |
| with 40 cups engraved on its worn side sits in a | | | | the Union Mission and Gateway where at least I |
| brown puddle of hot liquid and spews steam as | | | | can get sandwiches, coffee and showers." |
| the volunteers add the whole quart-sized bottle of | | | | Maxwell, late 30s, has a meat cutting job at Publix |
| creamer. It's time. | | | | but was on the street a couple of years ago for |
| Mr. Anthony opens the door and volunteers begin | | | | two months. He said that he remained homeless |
| to hand out lunches and coffee to real people. | | | | during that time to follow the work. He comes |
| People who light up with a simple sharing of a | | | | back to the outreach center to stay in contact |
| smile. People who each have a unique story. | | | | with some of the people he met while homeless. |
| Aiesha, 27, is expecting twins in January. She has | | | | "I've met a lot of interesting and talented people |
| been homeless for eight years. She is getting | | | | while I lived on the streets. Some are crazy, really |
| prenatal care at Grady, where she also gets her | | | | crazy, but others are here while they are |
| bipolar and schizophrenia medicines. She says that | | | | between things. The crazy ones will kill for a good |
| she never misses a doctor's appointment. Patting | | | | blanket or just because. Lots of people out here |
| her belly under her sweatshirt with small tears | | | | are druggies, but lots are not. The druggies and |
| pooling in her eyes, she says that she hopes this | | | | the lazy ones will be on the street a long time," |
| birth will be different as every one of her five | | | | he said. "I think the system and the churches help |
| children has been born with birth defects. | | | | encourage them to stay on the street. They |
| She says that her childhood was not too bad. The | | | | survive on handouts and charity and they do not |
| family moved to Atlanta from Cincinnati, Ohio, | | | | have to work at all for it. |
| when she was five and apparently was fairly well | | | | They will take shoes and blankets when they |
| off. Her mother had her own clothing design | | | | don't really need them to sell to other homeless |
| company and later her own cleaning business. | | | | people who are less fortunate. This morning we all |
| Aiesha mentioned that she always wanted to be | | | | stood in line for the sandwiches, but if the people |
| like her Mom. She was depressed in school | | | | in the line had to do some work to get the |
| because she said she had trouble grasping the | | | | sandwich, this line would be a whole lot shorter. I |
| concepts and being a "slow learner." She also | | | | think the worst part is when the real(sic) needy |
| shared that she felt abandoned because her Mom | | | | can't get to the services because of people who |
| gave her stepdad "too much" attention. | | | | really know how to use the system. |