Grateful

Today is a day like no other, yet sadly, it is also very similar to other days for others.

A couple of months ago, I gave a sleeping bag to a Veteran on the street. At the time, he was so super thankful to get it. A nice warm sleeping bag on a cool, chilly night. In fact, almost too warm, he would laugh. But he accepted it with a happy smile because he knew that the cold was coming and this would keep him warm.

Today I received a call, "my sleeping bag got wet." Of course it did with the snow over the weekend. “I tried to dry it out from the snow, but it caught fire.” Say what? I asked if he had put it in the spin cycle first to get the wetness out. "No," he said.

So, I went and looked downstairs and looked at the couple of sleeping bags that IVOS had just received. I pulled one, too thin. The other one was better.

Peter, my co-worker, and I drove to a coffee shop close to where he is staying. I only have a general location and not an exact location, and delivered it to him there. It took about 20 minutes round-trip.

“Thank you so much! Now maybe I can shake this cold and get back among the living.” Those were the words he said as he walked away. I know when I get a cold all I want to do is just stay in bed and sleep. Have you ever thought about what those on the street do when they get a cold or aren’t feeling well?

We have now entered the winter months with snow arriving. That means that so many will be going with colds or worse. But when you’re on the street, what do you do? Things will get rough for them with no place to go to get better.

This is a veteran who fought for our country, and here he is thanking me for a sleeping bag.

That’s why OIM appreciates so much the outerwear, the sandwiches, the snacks and the drinks that are given for us to pass along. Everything means so much to those who have so little. For some, it means they won’t go to sleep as hungry as they may have. For some, they have that coat to help fight off the cold. And for others, such as this Veteran, it means being a little warmer to sleep.

Thank you for making a difference in a total stranger’s life!

~Elizabeth, IVOS Associate