This past weekend, Raekwon and I decided to revisit HFTH since we had such a memorable experience the last time we went. This time, however, we brought another one of our brothas: Jermain "High School" Donchance (He earned the name "High School" after he tried to shoot a little game at a rather attractive grown woman who was also volunteering. Needless to say, she figured out he wasn't in high school, but we all got a nice laugh out of it anyway.) Volunteering at HFTH is hard work. We began our day around 8 a.m. and finished up around 3. It literally took us 3 hours just to set up the tables and stockpile them with hundreds of shoes, clothes, toys, food, computers, books, and miscellaneous household accessories.
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| Jermain trying to get a quick break before we get back to work setting up the tables for our clients. |
While we set up, our clients line up in the front of the building waiting to get in. Since we're giving out free stuff, people began lining up as early as 8:30 a.m. just to be one of the first. The line stretched about a blokc down the street! While they waitied outside in line, it was Jermain and Raekwon's job to offer our clients cold, bottled water. At the time, Jermain didn't know the full extent of the severity of the "poverty mentality". People were getting extremely agressive over free water bottles. Some were trying to snatch it from him, others would request two or three bottles at a time, and others caused a ruckus claiming they didn't get any water when they knew they did.
When the people are finally allowed to come in, they're giving a number typed on a small piece of paper. They use this to ensure no one tries to steal food. Believe it or not, there were people trying to steal FREE stuff. Clients proceed down the walkway we created for them picking up as much stuff they could carry in these large, trash bags.
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| Donated electronics: computers, copy/fax machines, VCRs, DVD players. |
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| Clients were allowed to take home 15 canned good including fresh meat. They got 2 whole slabs of ribs and some neckbones. The amount of food there was ridiculous! This picutre doesn't do it enogh justice. |
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| Jermain and Raekwon were also in charge of controlling the flow of traffic in the area. After our clients finished picking up their items, they had to have someone with a vehicle come in so we could load it all up for take home. |
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They took home a WHOLE CASE of bottle water AND gallon water!
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In the end, we helped out 98 families! Exhausted and hungry, we grabbed a bite to eat at Buger King. Before I took them home, I felt it necessary for them to really see what it was like in the dilapidated neighborhoods of Atlanta, a far cry away from the suburbs of Gwinnett County. We took a stroll through some of the housing projects and other neighborhoods in West End and Bankhead. We seen kids playing outside with dirty clothes on; we seen the drug dealers standing on the corners; we seen real poverty. It was an eye-opening experience for the boys. It was even Jermain who said, "Knowing the type of person I am, I wouldn't survive down here. I'm glad my momma moved us to Gwinnett. Kids don't realize how good they got it over there."
There are so many lessons to be learned from this type of experience. 1. Being a service to someone other than yourself 2.If you think your life is hard and/or difficult-walk down the street there is always someone else worst off than you are 3.If you just want to get by (without a good education)be prepared to be amongst the poverty. 4.The fact that you learned that you can set high goals for yourself and accomplish them. 5. You want a better life style for you and your family one day. 6.Education/skills/careers/ lead to being successful. 7. Success is not anything without "U" by (?).
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