We are commonly asked, what would Michael have done if not for you guys? Well, today we saw the answer.
On Doug's rounds for St. Vincent de Paul food deliveries to the homes of the poor we met Mr. McKinney. A veteran of the army and the navy he apparently got hit in the head with an axe. In his rendition they had to "put his brains back in a couple of times." In the few moments we were there we learned the following: it took him three years to remember he had a family only to learn that his wife had cleaned out his bank account; he is on tons of meds including narcotics which is a problem because he is going blind and cannot see to take them at the proper times. He has had roommates but they end up stealing all his meds. He was cut off SSI when someone broke in and stole his ID's. The VA cannot help him with the blind training until he can prove he is stable, but he has no money to pay the rent. His landlady is working with him but she is in CA and the manager is inept; letting her family squat in empty apartments instead of renting them out. He has serious physical ailments that need constant care but he has no resources to get it. He should be in a wheelchair but only has a walker. A police detective working with him on the ID theft and an ex-marine who found him on the street some time back and has been of great help, but the marine is elderly and apparently dying also. Mr. McKinney also suffers from PTSD and there are concerns he might commit suicide. Could you blame him?
We passed on his application for rent assistance and wished him luck. It was heartbreaking to leave him there, but you can't save the world. Although he still wears his wedding ring, it was apparent that he has no one.
We have much to be thankful for and we should not ever take any of it for granted.
Happy Thanksgiving.
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