What we found in the fire

Did you hear about it?  2 days before Christmas, a fire destroyed an apartment building turning over 200 people into an instant homeless community. Most times, I don't really pay much attention to these things because, well, tragedies happen every day (so shoot me). Then I got the call...one of our clients, Gary, called apartment #111 of the Burnsville apartment complex home.

His life-time struggle with mental illness often left him homeless and jobless but since 1999, Gary has been able to move into his own apartment, keep a job, and care of his ailing mother. His mental stability which used to be such a priority in his life slowly became an afterthought as he found himself increasingly able to be normal and independent.

Then it happened. Gary works every day as a janitor and while he was at work, the fire consumed everything he owned, everything he worked for, all his memories.  Left with only his work uniform, Gary found himself in a place he thought he left behind.  But as soon as his co-workers and friends heard about the tragedy, they offered their help.  You see, they know what something traumatic will do to someone with mental illness.  They immediately flew into action so that Gary would not lose more than his possessions.  A neighboring lodge took him in and made sure that he had someone to talk to.  His coordinator spent days with him ensuring his physical and mental health.  Staff donated clothes and gift cards so that he would have necessities.

It's humbling to me that through this devastating fire, every part of our organization took initiative to take care of Gary.  And you know what he said to me?  "I want to share what I have with my neighbors who don't have anything."  It left me speechless.

It's not really what we lose in a tragedy like this though I know Gary lost so much.  It's what we find... that we have each other.