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Home Van Newsletter - 2/2/09
POOR PEOPLE'S MARCH
Rev. Milford Griner is inviting interested people and organizations in the community to help with planning a poor people's march to commemorate the date of Martin Luther King’s death, April 4, 1968. At the time of his assassination, Dr. King's next project was going to be carrying out a poor people's march on Washington. This march in Gainesville will recognize that Dr. King’s dream of economic justice to address poverty has not see much progress. Poverty and economic injustice have actually expanded.
Rev. Griner will be holding an initial planning meeting for the “Poor Peoples’ March” on February 23, 2009 at 10:00 am at the Alachua County Housing Authority Board Room located at 703 NE 1st Street.
If you have any questions about this effort or wish to volunteer to help plan the event, please contact Rev. Griner who can be reached via email, mlgriner@yahoo.com or cell 665-4066 or 377-5022. Please pass this announcement on to any interested parties.
SIGN OF THE TIMES...
A friend's neighbor had the blankets she put over her plants stolen, one night, during a hard freeze. She took it in good spirit, realizing that some homeless person was trying to survive the night.
It has been a long, tough winter, and it ain't over yet. Nevertheless, in February one can see at least a glint of light at the end of the tunnel. Last fall we realized, here at the Home Van, that we were in over our heads - due to a marked increase in the humber of homeless and hungry people. We didn't have enough storage space, enough strength, and enough hours in the day to address the situation. For awhile we considered downsizing our operation. But then we realized we just couldn't do it, going into winter. We decided to suck it up and stumble through blanket and jacket season as best we could. After all, there would be no downsizing in the winter suffering of our homeless friends and, as we often tell them, we're all in this together.
I would like to thank everyone who helped us. Everyone who brought us blankets and jackets and money and high protein foods. Everyone who was gracious when I had to direct their donations to another agency, because I just didn't have any storage space left. Everyone who put up with me when I answered the door looking like a crazed refugee from a Tennessee William's play, trying to act grateful when all I wanted to do was hide in my office and watch reruns of Law and Order. God bless you all! We have made it this far, and we're going to make it to spring.
In the spring we are going to work on restructuring Home Van, putting our major emphasis on food. Next fall we will be seeking volunteers to collect blankets and warm clothing for us, bring them over, and stock the van, twice weekly.
We receive many messages from God here at the Home Van. A month ago, our old Home Van frig was on its deathbed - rusting and leaking and making loud strangling noises night and day. What to do? Freeman walked into a small thrift shop, looking for frames to buy, and, way at the back of the store, he found a very large, almost new Maytag refrigerator with a price tag that said $80. The same kind of miracle happened when our old van was dying, and when Eric needed an electric wheelchair, and the summer we had only $173, and a cashier's check for a thousand dollars appeared in my mail box. I thanked God for the Maytag miracle. It is clear that we are meant to go on. It is a matter of finding a way to go on, and that we will do.
Blessings on you all.
love, arupa
________________________________________________________________________________
The Home Van needs candles, creamy peanut butter, jelly, Vienna sausages, tents and tarps. Call 372-4825 to arrange for drop-off. Financial donations to the Home Van should be in the form of checks made out to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, earmarked for the Home Van and mailed to 307 SE 6th Street, Gainesville, FL 32601. All donations are tax deductible.
Rev. Milford Griner is inviting interested people and organizations in the community to help with planning a poor people's march to commemorate the date of Martin Luther King’s death, April 4, 1968. At the time of his assassination, Dr. King's next project was going to be carrying out a poor people's march on Washington. This march in Gainesville will recognize that Dr. King’s dream of economic justice to address poverty has not see much progress. Poverty and economic injustice have actually expanded.
Rev. Griner will be holding an initial planning meeting for the “Poor Peoples’ March” on February 23, 2009 at 10:00 am at the Alachua County Housing Authority Board Room located at 703 NE 1st Street.
If you have any questions about this effort or wish to volunteer to help plan the event, please contact Rev. Griner who can be reached via email, mlgriner@yahoo.com or cell 665-4066 or 377-5022. Please pass this announcement on to any interested parties.
SIGN OF THE TIMES...
A friend's neighbor had the blankets she put over her plants stolen, one night, during a hard freeze. She took it in good spirit, realizing that some homeless person was trying to survive the night.
It has been a long, tough winter, and it ain't over yet. Nevertheless, in February one can see at least a glint of light at the end of the tunnel. Last fall we realized, here at the Home Van, that we were in over our heads - due to a marked increase in the humber of homeless and hungry people. We didn't have enough storage space, enough strength, and enough hours in the day to address the situation. For awhile we considered downsizing our operation. But then we realized we just couldn't do it, going into winter. We decided to suck it up and stumble through blanket and jacket season as best we could. After all, there would be no downsizing in the winter suffering of our homeless friends and, as we often tell them, we're all in this together.
I would like to thank everyone who helped us. Everyone who brought us blankets and jackets and money and high protein foods. Everyone who was gracious when I had to direct their donations to another agency, because I just didn't have any storage space left. Everyone who put up with me when I answered the door looking like a crazed refugee from a Tennessee William's play, trying to act grateful when all I wanted to do was hide in my office and watch reruns of Law and Order. God bless you all! We have made it this far, and we're going to make it to spring.
In the spring we are going to work on restructuring Home Van, putting our major emphasis on food. Next fall we will be seeking volunteers to collect blankets and warm clothing for us, bring them over, and stock the van, twice weekly.
We receive many messages from God here at the Home Van. A month ago, our old Home Van frig was on its deathbed - rusting and leaking and making loud strangling noises night and day. What to do? Freeman walked into a small thrift shop, looking for frames to buy, and, way at the back of the store, he found a very large, almost new Maytag refrigerator with a price tag that said $80. The same kind of miracle happened when our old van was dying, and when Eric needed an electric wheelchair, and the summer we had only $173, and a cashier's check for a thousand dollars appeared in my mail box. I thanked God for the Maytag miracle. It is clear that we are meant to go on. It is a matter of finding a way to go on, and that we will do.
Blessings on you all.
love, arupa
________________________________________________________________________________
The Home Van needs candles, creamy peanut butter, jelly, Vienna sausages, tents and tarps. Call 372-4825 to arrange for drop-off. Financial donations to the Home Van should be in the form of checks made out to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, earmarked for the Home Van and mailed to 307 SE 6th Street, Gainesville, FL 32601. All donations are tax deductible.
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