Voice of a Guest: George
George is in his 60s. He worked all his life for a textiles company until four years ago his job was outsourced overseas. He looked hard for another job but everyone wanted someone younger, someone with different experience. Before too long, George lost his home and ended up living on the street.
“At first I thought my life was over. I was a shy person, I didn’t know anyone on the streets,” George recalls. “Eventually I met up with a good friend of mine and he showed me the ropes – where to go, where not to go.”
[blockquote]“Holidays are hardest – you can’t help but go back to happier times but there’s no point dwelling on the past. I’ve a lot to be thankful for – my friends here at the soup kitchen and a good meal to eat every day in this beautiful church.”[cite]-George[/cite][/blockquote]
One of the places that George’s friend told him to go was here, to Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen. On his friend’s recommendation George came expecting to get a hot, nutritious meal. But he wasn’t expecting to find a community of people to help support him through his homelessness, people who would become his closest friends.
It was one of these friends – Jean – who first encouraged George to try the Writers’ Workshop. Now a student for more than three years, writing has become a focus and a passion that carries George through difficult challenges of life on the streets. He has completed his first novel as well as many short stories and even plays, many of which are featured on the writers’ workshop blog.
“I didn’t know I could do things like this,” George says. “Looking at the things on the blog, sometimes tears come to my eyes.”
George is very grateful to the soup kitchen and following the sales of his book made a donation to help us continue to be there for him and other guests. “They’ve helped me and they’ve really thrown me a rope to hold onto,” he says. “Holidays are hardest – you can’t help but go back to happier times when you had family and friends around you and food on the table but there’s no point dwelling on the past. I’ve a lot to be thankful for – my friends here at the soup kitchen and a good meal to eat every day in this beautiful church.”
