My Assessment Essay

Carl and Tom:

An Essay about Homelessness

By: Cassandra Seidel

Pine Point School

English Class

2/25/11

            For the past few months, I have been working with a non-profit organization called Malta Ministries (Malta for short). Malta’s primary focus is on the less fortunate, specifically homeless. When I think of less fortunate, I often relate to Tom Robinson, a poor African American man in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. His courage is what I think of, and how he lived in that time period, and treated terribly for no reason. I feel courage is a strong aspect in Malta, and all the people in it.

         

I chose Malta Ministries for my Assessment Project for many different reasons. One reason I chose Malta is because I was interested in Homelessness. I love running the shoe train because the smile on the courageous homeless people’s faces when they get a new pair of shoes is amazing. It makes me feel good inside to help the less fortunate. Another reason I chose Malta is because my mom told me about the organization. She said she had worked with them many times before and they are completely trustworthy. She also said the way that their work was unbelievable, and she wouldn’t do it any other way. The final reason I chose Malta is because I have worked with them through my church before. They once had a deodorant drive, and I decided to donate two sticks. They were extremely grateful and I felt good about myself, and the organization. I am glad I chose Malta, because they are trustworthy, and a great organization.

While I was working at the site, I went through many challenges. For example, the second visit I made, I spilled soup all over my hand. I was giving a cup of soup to a man with dark skin, a light jacket, and a new knit hat that fit his head like a glove. He was grateful, but just wanted a little bit more meat. Unfortunately, when the meat finally plopped into the soup, it splashed back onto my hand, and I had a burn mark for weeks after. Another experience I have had is fights over clothing. Two people wanted the same jacket, and they started hitting each other to get it. Luckily, Mr. Klose, an old yet courageous man took the coat from them and broke up the fight. The last challenge we experience most often is shortages of clothes and toiletries. Most of the time, the first thing we run out of is deodorant. Most homeless don’t have access to a shower, but they don’t want to smell bad, so the first thing they can think of is deodorant. We once went through 100 small sticks of deodorant in two visits. Although we have many challenges, I am happy to be a part of Malta.

During my visits, I have gone through challenges, but I have done many good things as well. Every week, a man named Carl, who has wispy white hair and nothing to wear but a small tan fleece, comes up to me and says, “I just had a birthday! I turned 69!” Every week I say the same thing, “Wow, that’s cool.” I feel terrible for Carl because he is 69 and has been living on the streets most of his life, but every time I tell him those words, he smiles, and I know I am doing something right. Another fine experience I have had is when the homeless men would help us unload the boxes from the huge red truck. Every time we went to the dark strange parking lot, a random man would climb into the back, and start handing boxes to other people in need. They would line them up in the straightest line possible, and wait for us to open the boxes ourselves. Every time they do this, I also grab a box, and realize that they aren’t mean, they are just misunderstood. My last experience was helping a poor lady who had just lost her mother. She had a mullet haircut, a red sweater, and bunny slippers on. We were inside the W.A.R.M. shelter (one of Malta’s visits) and she started crying. I asked her what’s wrong, and she told me everything. I said, “Be strong, and have plenty of courage because these next few weeks will be tough.” I was happy to be there for her in her time of need. I am glad that I helped these many people in need and hope to do it again.

While I was helping out at Malta, I was also doing a lot of research, and it helped me realize what most of these unfortunate souls were going through. When I first found out that 61% of homeless are male (Wikipedia), it didn’t shock me that much. Except, when looked at the bottom of the page, it said 1.4% of those males, are 65 and over. Carl is 69, and part of 1.4% of homeless. When I found that statistic, I was heartbroken, and knew that Carl just needed love. I also realized during my study, that 15% of homeless are single women. There aren’t as many single women as single men, but women tend to be more fragile. These ladies and men shouldn’t even be on the streets in the first place. I also discovered the 51% of homeless males are white. 50% of homeless are African American (Wikipedia). This was shocking to me because most of the people at the service site are African American, but I understood that not all of the Homeless people in Connecticut are at the service site. There are so many people who have no idea what Malta is, and we can’t help them. I am happy that I went through the research, because without it, I probably still wouldn’t have any idea how to help people.

I can relate the classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, with my service site in many ways. The novel has an extreme aspect of loneliness. If you live on the streets, approximately 80% of homeless are alone. In To Kill a Mockingbird the character, Dill, has to live without parents. They are all alone. I can also relate the character Tom Robinson to homelessness. Many people are really scared of homeless people, because they don’t have a home. In the novel, many people were scared of Tom Robinson because of his skin color, and it just wasn’t right. I also believe that I can relate to the character, Atticus. Atticus is always helping the less fortunate, just like I was helping the homeless. Atticus also never gives up, even when the times are at its worst. I also never gave up on the people at the W.A.R.M. shelter because I knew they would get a home. Although To Kill a Mockingbird is based on life in the 1960’s, it can easily relate to our time period.

          While I was at Malta, I thought of many different things that I could have done differently. For example, I would have been nicer to the homeless. Sometimes, they would yell at me and just get on my nerves, so I would yell back. Looking back, however, I realized that being mean wasn’t the best thing to do, because they just needed love. Something else I would have done different is donated clothes or sanitary items to Malta. I never donated a single thing, due to my memory issues. I feel that I could have helped more, but what happens happens, and we can’t change that. The final thing I would have done in another way is brought in non-caffeinated soft drinks. Once, a lady brought in a 24 pack, and it was all gone before we made our second stop. I feel that if we had soda every week, some of the Homeless would tell their friends about Malta, and we would be helping more people. I have done many things at Malta that I would have changed, and those examples were just a few.

          This experience has changed me in many different ways. I learned that not everyone is helped, and that made me think, “Why?” Without shelters or various organizations, no one would be helped, and we would never solve the homeless situation. However they can not help everyone, 15% of homeless, live in non-habitable living conditions. I feel that this isn’t right, and has left an eternal hole in my heart. I have also learned not to judge homeless, because a lot of them have just lost their way. Looking at the many people who come to Malta, most of them are high, or drunk. There are, however, people who are just victims of the economy, and I learned to respect that. I have also evolved in a way that makes me want to help more. These poor people are less fortunate than us, and we can’t just stand there, we must help! What’s your excuse? Mine used to be time, but now I feel that helping is a part of my weekly schedule. I am proud to help Malta, and I am happy it changed my life.

          This essay is filled with happiness, sadness, and the aspect of courage. We all have courage stored somewhere, weather it is on the basketball court, at school, or in a parking lot full of homeless people. I feel that courage is what got me through the Malta Ministries program, that, and Tom Robinson.