Tag: social justice

Molly’s Trying to Get Clean

On her way back to treatment, fourth time since I have known her. “You only want to do this once,” I tell her. She’s not connected now, but, luckily, not broken. She winces in the cold. Nothing we can do for her. Conditions of release prevent her from drinking. “I don’t want to spend Christmas in jail. Can’t drink because they can breathalyze me for no reason.” If only sobriety were so easy! She does fine in treatment; doesn’t do well when she returns to the hood. Same place. Same people.

Author duckshotsPosted on December 24, 2011December 24, 2011Categories burlington, Church Street, Homeless, photographyTags addiction, social justice, street people

Tom O’Brien Knew Paul O’Toole

I met OB on Cherry Street paying his respects to Paul. He gave Paul a few bucks every once in a while; Spoke about life with him. “A blessing and gift you gave me,” he said when he looked at my image. “I needed to feel a real emotion about this. Too often we walk by people with a false smile on our faces. I’m not feeling so alone, anymore.”

I wonder who will be next in line?

Author duckshotsPosted on December 23, 2011December 23, 2011Categories cherry street, Homeless, photographyTags Paul O'toole, social justice, street people3 Comments on Tom O’Brien Knew Paul O’Toole

Paul’s Place

He’d sit on Cherry St, just up the street from Rite Aid. Before the Gear Exchange moved to Church St, the yellow jackets would chase him from under the enclosed area in front of the door.

Sometimes he put his crate near the wall near the grate so he could stash his beer (avoiding a ticket for an open container) and his litter (so he wouldn’t be burdened during travel).

Told not to block the sidewalk, he’d sit close to the street, putting his box or his butt in a place where cars backing into a parking space wouldn’t hit him. He’d also chase the sun.

He usually travelled with his friend, Eric.

He went to the park occasionally. He didn’t like the drug scene, the phony friendships, or the antics. Eric learned from him, helped him and was with him close to the end. Eric is now alone on the street.

Author duckshotsPosted on December 20, 2011December 20, 2011Categories cherry street, Homeless, photography, UncategorizedTags Paul O'toole, social justice, street people1 Comment on Paul’s Place

Paul O’toole Be Dead

Someone found Paul dead on a grate in downtown Burlington, probably in the same place I had found him time and time again. I just wasn’t around this time. Many tried to help him, too. They weren’t there either. Come on now; we all got lives. His sister, Mary, and Matt Young had a plan in place to put him back in treatment. He went to FAHC, I am told, and wasn’t able to deal with the protocols. So he died, needlessly, or so it seems. So it goes, Vonnegut would say.

No one has published a book for do gooders, especially those who don’t expect and aren’t interested in thanks for their charity. We do mitzvot because we can, not because we want something in return. Let us thank others for the chance to give, before we ask for thanks from those we serve.

Others out there who are also in need should not suffer the same fate. While we can never do enough, we should not stop trying, despite the best efforts of those in trouble to resist or obstruct. Our community is only as good as our committment to those least desirable to help.

You might think our friendship wasn’t worth the effort! Could be. But, I will do it again, gladly. And may God comfort his family among the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem. Amen, brother.

Author duckshotsPosted on December 19, 2011December 19, 2011Categories burlington, Church Street, Homeless, obits, photographyTags Paul O'toole, social justice, street people2 Comments on Paul O’toole Be Dead

Larry Being Larry

He says sometimes he is Larry and sometimes he is someone else. Which one is he today?

Author duckshotsPosted on December 14, 2011December 14, 2011Categories burlington, Church Street, HomelessTags Larry, social justice, street people

Molly Keeps Trying

All I can say to her is try to only do this once. Cut them ties. Just worry about yourself. Work on living. Cold, sitting on the paving stones? They look better than they feel. And it ain’t even winter, yet!

Author duckshotsPosted on December 14, 2011December 14, 2011Categories burlington, Church Street, Homeless, Women's rightsTags social justice, street people

Paul’s Still Here

So, they said Paul thumbed out, eh. Nope. Back after a four day stay at FAHC (actually it was three, but he’s not counting).

Author duckshotsPosted on December 1, 2011December 1, 2011Categories burlington, cherry street, Homeless, photographyTags Paul O'toole, social justice, street people1 Comment on Paul’s Still Here

Buddy, can you spaire a dime?

Kim’s guy got a dollar.

Chad got a place to live. Set up utilities. “First time they did anything for me.”

I gave him an image from last spring.

Eric stays under the radar.

Sean’s strong.

Author duckshotsPosted on November 29, 2011November 29, 2011Categories burlington, Church Street, Homeless, photographyTags social justice, street people

Sweet and Kate

Just relaxing, which is what parks be made for. Were the housing problem to be solved, many of the other issues creating tension like overcrowded prisons and illused hospitals would be eliminated. Then feeding people healthy foods and educating them about civic duty could be the focus of public debate.