Street Talk- Gary Comes Full Circle

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StreetTalk Tales From The Relief Bus and The Hope Center

Bringing Hope To The Streets of New York and New Jersey

Gary Comes Full Circle In 1981 Gary Franklin began using crack cocaine. The years of addiction and desperation that followed were dark times. Gary visited The Hope Center many times between 20002005. He came to Matthew’s House Food Pantry when he was desperately hungry.

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Gary said, “I knew this was a spiritual place, so I only came when I was realGary said, ly in need. My conscience wouldn’t let “God, I can’t me take advantage. On one occasion, after four days of binging do this any on crack, I came to get some food. I more!” imediately took the bag of groceries out by some railroad tracks and ate half of it right there.”

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In 2005, after 16 years of addiction, Gary was walking through the park after having been awake for the past two days. As he was walking through the park Gary said, “God, I can’t do this any more!”. That is when he asked for help. Within 24 hours Gary was arrested, but he felt calm because he knew why that had happened. It was the first step to his recovery from addiction. Now after having completed a drug rehabilitation program, Gary is taking college courses to gain new work skills. One of his education requirements is to volunteer somewhere, so now Gary is working every Friday at The Hope Center answering the phones with a smile. He is now 15 months clean and moving forward into a bright new future. After finding help at The Hope Center, he is now doing his part to help others. Truly, Gary has come full circle. New York City Relief (NYCR) was founded in 1989. NYCR serves as an umbrella organization for two outeach programs: The Relief Buses of NY/NJ and The Hope Center in Elizabeth, NJ.

The Relief Buses of NY and NJ are two converted buses that feed and connect the homeless, substance abusers, and the working poor to resources of help and hope.

The Hope Center is a community outreach center in Elizabeth, NJ that offers support groups for substance abuse, emergency food pantry, and crisis counseling and referrals.

CONTACT I N FO 1181 E. Broad Street Elizabeth, NJ 07201 Ph. 800.736.2773 Fx. 908.352.6446 www.ReliefBus.org [email protected]

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Willie Is One Of The Family

Willie is a homeless man who has been coming to The Relief Bus for about nine years to our site in the Bronx at 183rd and Grand Concourse. This area that Willie calls home is one of the poorest in the nation. Willie is one of the many people who come to The Relief Bus every week for a cup of delicious soup, a big piece of fresh bread, and a steaming cup of hot chocolate. Willie usually sits and eats by the bus for the entire four hours that it is operating on Tuesdays. To strangers, Willie might be a bit gruff and not open to talk, but to the staff of The Relief Bus he is an old friend and part of the family. The harsh living conditions in the Bronx cause many people to isolate just to protect themselves. Many homeless people keep to themselves because they are afraid of being hurt or exploited. Like many people surviving in such difficult living conditions, Willie depends on The Relief Bus not for just soup and bread, but for relationship with people who care. For many living in desperation, this can make a big difference and give them hope to go on. This is what long term commitment, consistency and perseverance is all about. Whether it is blazing hot or freezing cold, people know that they can count on The Relief Bus to be there every week.

Will You Go With Us?

The truth is that many people die on the streets because they are unable to take care of themselves and/ or have an addiction that is eating them away body and soul. The number of homeless people sleeping each night in New York City shelters reached record levels this decade. At the same time, the shortage of affordable housing has grown more acute over the past decade.

Odds are that you haven’t gotten to where you are today without help- the help of a father, mother, teachers, and friends. There are some in society who need help from us. They need us to reach out a hand and pick them up. The Relief Bus is a lifeline to many people who society has forgotten or written off. Maybe you can’t go out on the streets with us, but would you consider partnering with us to help insure that the bus will keep going out? As staff and volunteers invest their lives in people on the streets, you too will be investing in hope for change and opportunities to live .

Please join our monthly support team today for $25, $50, $100 or more so that The Hope Center and The Relief Bus can continue this labor of love to transform the communities we serve in. All gifts are tax-deductible. Make your check out to “New York City Relief” and mail in the enclosed envelope to 1181 E. Broad Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07201. Thanks for caring.