"It Takes A Village": For Sandy
Donation protected
When I first saw Sandy (age 67), he was a nameless homeless man who pulled a cart wherever he went. He spent his days passing time in the bus shelter and his nights sleeping on a wooden bench outside a doctor's office. Most people in Cambridge would recognize him.
He is he is the man whose home is in a cart.
He would vacate this bench early in the mornings, before business opened, and would return after business closed each night so as to not get in the way. He is mindful of not leaving garbage, making a fuss, or causing trouble.
Once I reached out to him by bringing him a hot coffee in the winter or a cold smoothie in the summers, he soon became a friend. Seeing his living conditions became personal to me.
He was now my friend, with a name - Sandy, sleeping on the bench.
A friend who had no hearing and with an another hard winter on its way. There is a lifetime of stories that led him to this bench and with his deafness it makes his living situation (or finding a new one) much harder. He is one of the most gracious and gentle people I know. Whenever I bought him a coat or jacket he is so thankful and offers to pay me back. He has a lot of integrity and a big heart.
Seeing his situation, my nights became sleepless and I knew I had to do something.
My first order of business was getting him indoors so he has a warm place to sleep and shower. Secondly, I am in the process of finding a more permanent residence that provides him with safety and dignity. That being said I put this page forward in hopes of getting help to set him up and back on his feet. He is ready, willing and able. But he needs his community to help.
I carry a sense of shame on behalf of our community, our government systems that such a man as Sandy has slipped through the cracks.
This is our chance.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE.
What the funds raised will be used for:
1. $2,000 - Keeping him safe and warm where he is while permanent shelter is found.
2. $2,000 for first and last month's rent and incidentals.
3. $1,500 for housing supplies (such as dishes, sheets, bed, etc)
THE BENCH WHERE SANDY SLEPT OUTSIDE THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE
ME AND SANDY
MOVING SANDY INSIDE TEMPORARY HOTEL ROOM
SHOWERED AND CLEAN WITH A WARM BED
THE GROCERY LIST (AND NOTE) HE LEFT ME
He is he is the man whose home is in a cart.
He would vacate this bench early in the mornings, before business opened, and would return after business closed each night so as to not get in the way. He is mindful of not leaving garbage, making a fuss, or causing trouble.
Once I reached out to him by bringing him a hot coffee in the winter or a cold smoothie in the summers, he soon became a friend. Seeing his living conditions became personal to me.
He was now my friend, with a name - Sandy, sleeping on the bench.
A friend who had no hearing and with an another hard winter on its way. There is a lifetime of stories that led him to this bench and with his deafness it makes his living situation (or finding a new one) much harder. He is one of the most gracious and gentle people I know. Whenever I bought him a coat or jacket he is so thankful and offers to pay me back. He has a lot of integrity and a big heart.
Seeing his situation, my nights became sleepless and I knew I had to do something.
My first order of business was getting him indoors so he has a warm place to sleep and shower. Secondly, I am in the process of finding a more permanent residence that provides him with safety and dignity. That being said I put this page forward in hopes of getting help to set him up and back on his feet. He is ready, willing and able. But he needs his community to help.
I carry a sense of shame on behalf of our community, our government systems that such a man as Sandy has slipped through the cracks.
This is our chance.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE.
What the funds raised will be used for:
1. $2,000 - Keeping him safe and warm where he is while permanent shelter is found.
2. $2,000 for first and last month's rent and incidentals.
3. $1,500 for housing supplies (such as dishes, sheets, bed, etc)
THE BENCH WHERE SANDY SLEPT OUTSIDE THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE
ME AND SANDY
MOVING SANDY INSIDE TEMPORARY HOTEL ROOM
SHOWERED AND CLEAN WITH A WARM BED
THE GROCERY LIST (AND NOTE) HE LEFT ME
Organizer
Julie Milward
Organizer
Guelph, ON
