May 2006 Report

Our volunteers set another record for outreach last
month, distributing 330 sack lunches. 65 bags were
given out here at Plasma Services.

A VERY GOOD FRIDAY

Some people in poverty donate plasma for the payout. The donors at the downtown blood bank (pictured above) are always excited to see us. We went again on April 14 – the Friday before Easter. All 65 lunch bags contained a special message. It explained that giving blood is a picture of what Christ did for us. The Bible says, “Jesus loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding His blood for us.”

A REAL DIAPER-DANDY

Allen is one of the men we met outside the Plasma Services Center. He was seated under a tree beside his 10-month-old. When we inquired about his name, daddy proudly displayed a tattoo on his right arm spelling Aiden. The father happily shared the free sack lunch with his son, who especially enjoyed gnawing, chewing and drooling on one of the great big Grandma’s-brand cookies.

STAY TUNED

FOX 23 is preparing to name the recipient of their 2006 community service award. The winner will represent Tulsa at a national event in Washington D.C. Filling The Void’s very first foot soldiers – Chris Brooks, Erin Bjornberg and Kelly Swan – were nominated by volunteer Andrea Randle. Tune in to the 9 pm newscast on June 1 to see the results. The original story that FOX aired about our street outreach is still available at www.fox23.com. Look under "Jefferson Awards."

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Did you know there are different kinds of homelessness? Some people really do live on the streets, under bridges, or in alleys. Others land at a friend’s place until they wear out their welcome. Most of the homeless, however, can and do find a roof in the form of a local shelter. That’s where Margie and Sally had been living for six and eight months, respectively, before Tulsa’s Day Center for the Homeless helped each find public housing. We then helped fill their fridges with groceries on April 27.

GETTING IN ON THE GROUND FLOOR

Our corporate partners are a critical part of our ministry. Williams is one of the best. The company graciously supports our work through grants. Now they’ve taken their support even further, finding a new home for our much-needed volunteer center. The new digs are on the ground floor in their 52-story building, and it gives us enough room to make and store more than 500 sack lunches at a time.

COMING CLEAN

We’d like to respond to every request, but it’s not as simple as it sounds. Take Trey for example. He told us his story on April 12. He didn’t ask for money. In fact, all he wanted was a place to take a shower. But he had been kicked out of two downtown shelters and had missed two appointments to talk with the Salvation Army. Honestly, we didn’t know what to say.

PUPPY LOVE

One of our newest volunteers – Cindy Wade – has an affection for homeless people, as well as their pets. Our own calling is clearly to mankind, but we were happy to show Cindy what we see on the streets. A few of the men we know do indeed have four-legged friends. On April 26, Cindy found her perfect ministry fit, getting to rub shoulders and paws with a man named Steve and his canine companion Cracker Jack.