by ttripp | Feb 21, 2020 | Uncategorized
Jared’s faith in God is what ultimately changed the course of his life for the better, he tells Tracy and I, at Hands and Feet Ministries in Jacksonville. The clean-shaven young man with a ponytail says he now feels a calling to the ministry. “In...
by ttripp | Feb 5, 2020 | Uncategorized
We met Joel at Hands and Feet Foundation in Jacksonville. They are one of the faith-based outreach programs helping the homeless. Tracy and I interviewed the couple who run this program and will be posting their interview on the blog soon. Joel, age 67, is an army...
by ttripp | Jan 23, 2020 | Uncategorized
John’s Story Dorri and I met John and Tiffany at Social Grounds. Their features showed characteristics of youth, or at least the youth of people in their twenties. Yet, the years had been hard, and it painted a picture on their faces of two much older people. They had...
by ttripp | Jan 8, 2020 | Uncategorized
Thomas, age 29, looked as relaxed as any college student dressed in jeans, sneakers, and a hoodie. Tracy and I found some seats at a long rectangular table toward the back of the San Marco Library. Amid the hushed conversations and occasional flutters of book pages,...
by ttripp | Dec 18, 2019 | Uncategorized
Synergy: the interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects. I love this word because it contains magic and possibilities. The definition of synergy makes...
by ttripp | Dec 5, 2019 | Uncategorized
Thom, “the phone man,” age 70, agreed to meet with us and talk about the challenges he faces in being part-time homeless. “The phone man” nickname, as he’s known on the streets, comes from his employment with Assurance, a cellular phone company, specializing in Obama...
by ttripp | Nov 20, 2019 | Uncategorized
Dorri and I stood in front of the Jacksonville Public Library. The streets were bustling with people. Some individuals were hurrying by; others sat with their backs against the library wall, waiting for the doors to open. Immediately, we noticed the homeless presence....
by ttripp | Nov 5, 2019 | Uncategorized
Cecil cautiously walked into the quiet room at the Jacksonville Public Library. He wasn’t out of place. There were, in truth, many Street Friends, as they are lovingly referred to by the local mission groups, enjoying the air conditioning. He didn’t mention if this...
by ttripp | Oct 21, 2019 | Uncategorized
We met with 28-year-old, Taylor, on a Wednesday afternoon, late August, in the Jacksonville Public Library. He agreed to speak with us about what his life was like on the streets in Jacksonville and what challenges he faces. After he greets me with a “nice to...
by ttripp | Oct 10, 2019 | Uncategorized
When passing by the nameless faces on the street, it is easy to condemn, look away, or possibly shake our heads at our fellow humans’ bad choices. Drugs, alcohol, and crime, all these factors separate their worlds from ours, keeping us safe from the intimidating...
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