Seeing the Invisible

Giving out Christmas gift baskets 12/23/2020 in downtown Chicago

Robert at 122 S. Michigan:

Robert came up to me and asked if I could help him out get a room at a hotel for the night - it was going to be cold.  I gave him $10.  He remarked that usually during the holidays people are more generous, but not this year.  I asked him how he kept warm at night.  He said he had a comforter that he used to keep in an alley in a garbage bag, but one night it was gone.  He was disappointed how other people stole things from the homeless.  I thought another person probably thought they hit the jackpot when they found it.

I asked how much the room would cost, and he said $19.95.  He didn't have enough - just had 2 or 3 dollars on him.  I gave him another $10.  He was very thankful.

Robert

Orlando at Adams & Michigan:

Orlando was very talkative and outgoing.  He greeted everybody that passed by, and sang to us as we approached.  I told him I thought he would be successful in marketing or sales.  He said he had dreams of being an actor in Hollywood or singer on Broadway.  He wanted to purchase land someday and grow plants, including hemp (I smiled); said he was very good at growing things.  

Orlando worked on Tuesdays at the Popeye's Chicken near Macy's.  They wouldn't give him any more hours.  The Chickfilet in front of which he greeted passersby had given him a gift card with 52 meals because he liked his energy.  He said he had a sister in the city at whose place he could stay every now and then.  She had children, so he couldn't stay with her long term. 

Orlando holding the holiday gift basket we had given him.

Blue at Congress and Michigan:

Blue came up to us while we were talking with Rachel, Will, and Ken see below).  He offered them food, which they declined because they said they were full.  

Blue had a service dog, but he wasn't blind.  The dog helped when he had seizures.  He said he's traveled all over, and usually stayed at one place 6-8 months.   

I asked if I could take his picture to put on this site.  He said he had heard of my site, which made me wonder about him (because it's SuperTopSecret (obviously)).  Later Ken told me privately he was trying to signal me about Blue, to say he wasn't one of them and that he was a dubious person.  That perhaps I shouldn't have given him $10;  Blue would take things the group would give him and try to sell them.

Blue with his service dog Sara

Rachel and Will on Congress west of Michigan:

We met Rachel and Will along with Ken and others (not pictured) chatting at their "camp" on the side of a multi-story building whose street level was narrower than the upper floors, providing natural cover from the elements.  They said they had been there for several months and really liked it because there was regular traffic that would give them food.  Before they were staying at an isolated area in Millennium Park which gave them privacy, but very little traffic/food.  

Ken had a wife who was away at the library.  They would typically use the library for their bathroom, or the alley in an emergency.  The members of the camp looked out for each other.  One member would always stay and watch their stuff if others had to go somewhere.  While Mike and I were talking with them, a BMW drove up and gave them some meals in plastic containers.  

I asked them how they kept warm when it was cold.  They had tents and comforters, and said I'd be surprised at how warm they could get inside them.

The group really appreciated our holiday gift basket, particularly the toe and hand warmers, socks, hats, and toilet paper.  They suggested sanitizing wipes would also be helpful.  They loved Mike's blinking Santa hat:-)  

Rachel and Will have known each other for several years, and only recently had become partners.  They had both left their old partners.  They and their group are the happiest homeless persons I've ever met.   

Selfie with Rachel and Will

Not pictured:  Some of the persons we'd met declined to have their pictures taken:

Timothy and Chuck at Michigan & VanBuren:

Timothy was a genial person, offering energy bars in exchange for money.  He said he had been homeless on the streets for many years, and grew up on the Southside of Chicago.  His family was in Mississippi, but he didn't have money to join them.  He said he just keeps going on, because that's all he can do.

Chuck said "I'm 63 years old" in a way that made me think he couldn't believe he was that old and homeless and asking for money.  He said sometimes he kept warm by riding the train.  But he couldn't completely fall asleep on the train - he had to keep one eye open so bad people wouldn't try to attack or steal something from him.

Chuck said he really liked my Santa hat, so I gave it to him and he promptly put it on.  I think he felt happier greeting other people while wearing it:-)

Charley on Congress and Michigan:

Charlie was a member of the Rachel/Will group described above.  He was greeting cars with the sign "Trump is Gone!".  I told him I hated Trump.  He was appreciative of our holiday gift basket and asked for another one for his friend Steve who wasn't there at the moment.  

Rod on Michigan & VanBuren:

Rod sat on a wheelchair and was missing his legs.  He said he was run over by a train many years ago.  His left hand was mangled.  When we gave him $10 he put it in his pocket to hide it from the younger crowd that sometimes stole stuff from him.  He said he tried to keep himself in good shape, and he looked it.

Mike Lehman, Harvard Corner, Cambridge, MA, 2016

I passed by Mike and glanced quickly at his sign.  I couldn't help but smile as I thought his message was innovative and different.  He yelled to my back, "I don't see anything funny about it!"  That caused me to turn around, feeling both bad and guilty for my thoughtless reaction.  We chatted a little bit, and I'm glad I got the chance to know him.