It is Hard to Loose a Friend

Since last fall I have been working with the Catholic Action Center in Lexington KY. They secured HUD money to take those experiencing homelessness and place in apartments. I have been "a friend" for them.

Each Wednesday we have a supper and Ginny CAC Director updates on current events: auto wash (earned a bus pass and about 20 dollars for each washer), forming a softball team, creating a vegetable garden at the apartments (owner has given permission), providing a meal for the children who live at the apartments through out summer vacation (a resident would earn $12 a day as supervisor for the meal. 30 children are needed to make a center) a UK group wants to take the residents out bowling. The residents participated in taking a census of the homeless for the official USA census. I understand they found some folks at night at shelters.

Ginny announced that Sam (not real name) would no longer be with us. He was on parole and failed to report on time (I am assuming he missed more than once.) so was sent to prison for a one year sentence. This was from a drug charge. Sam was fun and loved stories as his father was a preacher in the coal fields of KY. He is a twin and his twin is also in prison. After Christmas visits, Sam proudly showed me the photos of his grandchildren although he is only in his 40's.

I was counting on his successful recovery from addiction and finding and holding a job. My brother Joe died at age 51 from a alcoholic-related heart attack. So I relate to these men and women as my siblings. I feel so badly when they take steps backward especially in Sam's case which lost him an apartment and an opportunity to start again.

I am going to try to find a way to stay in contact with Sam if possible through the Catholic Action Center. Please keep him in your prayers and all the men and women live at the Preakness.
Many blessings for all those who work at the Catholic Action Center and volunteers and all who financially or in-kind support the corporeal works of mercy in Lexington and throughout the country and world.