I just read an amazing, touching story and would like to share it with all of you. It's not really political, but does speak to the broader issues of homelessness, community, hope, and helping out our fellow man.
Homeless Couple Marry
I do not and have never lived in a big city, so the plight of homelessness has never been all that visible to me on a daily basis. Most of what I know of the issue has come from the media through articles and pictures. But I can certainly share the heartache and feelings of helplessness over the hardships of my fellow man.
During his 14 years living homeless on the streets of Washington, Dante White, 28, never realized that so much opulence existed. Nor had he had much luck in love in his life, having been thrown out of his mother's home when he was just 14.
Last week, White married Nhiahni Chestnut, 39, a woman whose battles with drugs and alcohol had left her on the streets of the US capital as well. Both are unemployed.
This story had me smiling from ear to ear. I am not a religious person and generally dislike the notion of faith-based programs. Yes, I realize that these groups do good work, but the percentage that provide help with no religious strings attached is small, I think. I know that almost all of such programs in my community require religious involvment to participate. One of the shelters even segregates by gender and refuses to allow families for religious reasons. Perhaps someday there will be many more groups and programs to help the non-religious (or people of varying faiths, other than christianity, for that matter) but until then, religious-based groups will have do. That being said, I know there will always be a need among church groups to help fellow members, and this is an important part of our social safety net. I guess I am not so much against faith-based programs per se, only that I wish there were more diverse program types out there.
Anyhow, after reading this story, I was really heartened to read about what this couple's church community did to bring their wedding dreams to reality. With a spirit of love, generosity, and community, they came together to make this couple's world a brighter, more hopeful place, even if only for a few short days. The churchgoers coordinated time, effort and money for a cause greater than themselves.
"In good Grace church congregation fashion, everyone got behind the idea: one person managed flowers, I helped with the wedding rings, one woman made the cake, someone helped with the tux and someone else with the bride's gown," she said.
Another churchgoer paid for a two-night honeymoon stay at the Key Bridge Marriott Hotel across the Potomac River in Virginia.
It was not a grand undertaking to end world poverty, or rid humanity of a horrible disease. But these people certainly made a difference in this couple's life.
That, to me, is what community service is all about. Even though I am atheist, this church community perfectly demonstrated to me what it means to love, and what it means to help. They made me want to help, in whatever small way I can. We cannot change things in leaps and bounds. We can, however, take small baby steps. When enough people take enough baby steps, pretty soon we will be able to turn around and see just how far we have truly come.
Updated to add for those who would like to help:
Lets give this couple a hand up as well... (12+ / 0-)
From the google: Grace Episcopal Church (I just called them!)
They are a small church in Georgetown of about 250 people and maybe a 100 or so on Sundays.
Grace Church
1041 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20007
Mark the check: Dante and Nhiahni gifts
Email: office@GraceDC.org But let's don't overwhelm their email servers!
Thanks, SallyCat!