Hello,

Today I was walking downtown Appleton, WI, to shop for gifts for my family members. While walking, I passed my parish, St Joseph Catholic Church, and noticed a gentleman waiting outside the church doors. He was hunched over with a cane and awaiting entry into the church to inquire about a place to stay that evening. As I got to speaking to him, I learned that the man's name was Sharod, he was in his 50's, and disabled, having shot nerves and cartilage in his legs and back. He told me his life story of growing up in the projects, Milwaukee, and being between Oshkosh and Appleton trying to get by. He was genuinely so sweet, and I could tell he had a warrior's spirit to him.

When we think of homelessness, we think of people who got addicted to drugs, and therefore we justify within ourselves that they are going to be wreckless with the money given to them. In Sharod's case, he had his car, his refuge from the cold, impounded because some homeless man broke into his car and stole his battery. He told me that he could not afford to pay the fees, and each day his car stays in the lot, he would be charged $50 extra. His car has been in the lot of Towing lot for 11 days.

This holiday, I want to surprise him with getting his car back to him so he can have dignity and autonomy. I couchsurfed one summer [by choice] in the pacific northwest and know how frustrating life can get when you don't have a mode of transportation available. Please consider donating to my cause so I can help this wonderful man get his life back in order this Christmas!