Ken lives on a bench behind the library on 4th Street. He used to be a line cook. Now, he survives on day-old bread, writes poetry in a weathered notebook, and shares what little he has with others in need.

Last month, a stranger read one of Ken’s poems—left behind at a shelter—and sent a note that simply said: “You write about real things. Things we forget matter.”

That message lit something in Ken. For the first time in years, he asked how to submit a poem to the local paper.

Ken doesn’t want much—just a roof, a meal, and a shot at rebuilding. This fundraiser is to help him get back on his feet: warm clothes, shelter, and maybe, with your help, a fresh notebook and a future worth writing about.