A Silent Mourning

The day was cold and gray, and it had started to snow a half hour ago. The man stood in the cemetery before a small grave marker. He couldn’t stay long. The cemetery groundskeepers were always wary of anyone on the premises without a vehicle. At any rate, he would have to find something to eat soon.

The man was dressed simply. He intentionally wore baggy clothes, at least a size too large, so that he might layer clothing under them when the days grew colder. His coat was worn and tattered. His boots were old and caked with dirt. He had a scarf draped around his neck, but he wished he had a hat to wear. He would have to look for one tomorrow. He just hoped the night wouldn’t be too cold.

His attention returned to the grave he came to visit. The man buried there was one of his few friends, a middle aged fellow named Tim. He wished things hadn’t gone so badly for him. Tim was a good guy. Five years ago, he had it made. Tim had a good job and was making decent money. It wasn’t his fault that he got sick. When his sick leave and vacation time ran out, his bosses told him they had no choice but to let him go. His money ran out soon after, and he was evicted from his apartment. Without a job or a place to live, Tim was forced to hit the streets.

That was when he met Tim. He had lived on the streets off and on for a few months and knew the ropes. Tim was desperate and needed a friend. One day, he brought Tim to a free pantry for some clean clothes to wear. The woman at the counter told them about other services they offered. Tim learned that if he had known about this place a few months earlier, he might have received assistance with his rent and prevented his eviction. They were told about a food pantry nearby and walked across the bridge together one afternoon to get some food. All of this was for free. No one asked either of them for anything in return for the services they received.

Eventually Tim passed away after a protracted illness. It didn’t seem fair. He didn’t do anything wrong. He just wasn’t strong enough to stay healthy on the streets, and there wasn’t enough help available for him. Tim’s sister paid for him to be buried, but that was it. He shook his head with wonder, failing to understand how someone could have so much go wrong so quickly. He had his own problems but hoped to turn things around. He would need help, though. He wouldn’t be able to get it done on his own. Along with finding a hat, there were a few places he needed to stop at tomorrow if he wanted a place to stay by the time winter hit.

It was almost sundown. He needed to leave. He felt good inside, making time to pay his respects to Tim. Now he had to get back to the business of survival…

This is a fictitious story. There is no one named Tim. No one stood at a grave, mourning his death. But many people like Tim exist, living on the streets, under bridges or in the woods. His story has played out somewhere, each and every day. You will meet people like Tim, in cities all over America. This is the reason service agencies exist—to support people in a crisis. There are thousands of people living in circumstances beyond their control. Some are fighting to survive the loss of a job, a broken marriage, or eviction from their place of residence. Others just need a little extra help, on occasion, to keep things going.

Many people in Lawrence, Kansas and nationwide are a single crisis away from this situation. Losing a job, medical bills, or a death or divorce in the family can bring many to the point where homes or family lives are in jeopardy. It is for this reason that service agencies play an important role in a population’s well-being. Help with food, clothing, utility bills and finding a job or an affordable place to live can make the difference for some between self-sufficiency and a life on the streets. It is that simple.

I have been in this situation, where a crisis derailed my life and changed everything for me. I was not rich, but I made enough money to cover my basic needs and save a little for the future. The future became something unforeseen. The road back to self-sufficiency became something different than I imagined, and what I thought was a stable future was not.

This is the reason for giving. Giving to charities, non-profit organizations, fundraisers and other altruistic events offers a reason to hope for those without hope. It offers a way back for someone who cannot find their way. It is good for those we help, and good for our community, as well. By keeping people employed, housed, and fed, we keep them off support systems and out of the community corrections system. This saves thousands in local taxpayer dollars each year. It allows us to build a better world and ensure that people like “Ted” have a chance.

What could be better than that?