Here I am again. Back in the company of butterflies in my stomach and the unusual loss of appetite. It was like 'Speed Dating' all over again. It could only mean one thing, time to throw myself in to my next Experience.
I had spent the afternoon helping my Sister choose a laptop suitable for college and sorting out her wireless internet access, but kept glancing at the clock on the taskbar as each digit seemed to click over with a slam that only I could hear. It was like someone knew I was getting myself worked up over this next experience, and they wanted to see me squirm a little longer before the deadline struck at 6.20pm.
I was almost in the position of creating excuses to 'miss this week, but i'll be along for sure next week'. As the countdown clock just crossed over 5pm, I knew I had already committed myself to this and given my word that I'd be there, so I would have to take the plunge and just go with an open mind. I was going to be picked up by the organiser and dropped home, so my Sister gave me a lift back shortly after 5.15pm. I have to admit, she didn't fill me with confidence with tips such as "leave your watch, wallet and mobile at home...you never know!" Suddenly it seemed Lincoln Burrows was giving me tips on how to survive prison!
I managed to grab a sandwich and watched the clock as the last 30mins counted down. 6.20pm, I hear a beep outside my house and my ride is here. The organiser greets me, and sets me at ease with his light hearted humour and I make light conversation and ask how he became involved and a rough idea what to expect.
We arrive shortly after at the local Church where the food is prepared. Now I'm not religious, nor are the other volunteers - or atleast not the 'bible bashers' as you may expect to find. I would find out later on, that those guys worked the Wednesday & Friday shifts and they DO attempt to 'spread the word' etc etc. There's 6 of us tonight, including myself. It's not long before I see the well oiled machine in action, as we form the 'assembly line' Our roles as follows:
one - buttering the bread, me - adding 1 x slice of ham and 1 x slice of cheese to each sandwich before I pass it down the line to be cut in two and placed inside sandwich bags. While this is going on flasks of hot water for the tea and coffee's are being prepared while the soup is on the go...Who said men can't multi-task?? ;P
7.05pm - We're off to our first of three locations. The Central train station. There's already 4 guys waiting for our arrival. Between the ages of late 20's to mid 40's. I help set the table up, I don't feel threatened, but I feel I have to censor myself. Would I be in the wrong to ask them 'How are you?' given their current situation? I did feel slightly helpless and jumped at the chance when they asked for a sandwich and I was more than happy to ask them "Cheese or Ham?" There was a selection of chocolate bars and fruit that was on offer, but they seemed to turn their nose up at that. I'm just as bad, not much better with vegetables! Then one of the homeless guys turned to me as I was pouring him a coffee and he said:
"Did you have a good Easter?"
I'm sure if you could have seen it, my chin would have hit through the pavement. Here is this guy who has been sleeping rough for a number of years, and the first thing he asks me is did I have a good Easter? Again, I just smiled and replied "yeh, good thanks". It wasn't quite like I could go on about all the different Eggs I had received and greetings cards from my Grandparents. I was incredibly moved by what he just said, and he took his coffee and sat down in one of the door entrances. There was also tales of what they'd been up to during the day, and even making a fire as proving difficult during the high winds, when one of the guys almost set him and his tent on fire! The 20 minutes passed quickly and before we knew it, we were packing up and getting ready to head to our next location. Not before ALL of the homeless guys shook every volunteer's hand and said 'Thank's very much' = which again I found mindblowing to comprehend. It made sense what the organiser was telling me in the car : "We're the only thing they can rely on. We're here every Monday at the same time, without fail." This apprecation could be heard in their voices and seen in their eyes before they made their way back in to the night.
7.35pm - Our second stop was just outside the Milton Keynes Theatre. It was starting to get dark, and nobody was there to greet us this time. One of the volunteers asked if I would walk with him and try to see if we could find any at their usual spots. I.E. Basically anything with shelter or heat. We didn't find anyone, but I was told a few explanations to some of the homeless people's requests. 'They will as you for empty carrier bags' I didn't really want to know what for, as I had my thoughts...' 'They use the carrier bags to store their food in a dry place and then hide them in bushes. If they sleep with food on them, you can guarantee it won't be there when they wake up'!" "oh right, I said" Just what I was thinking.....well maybe the second thing in my mind!
After ten minutes, four then a fifth turned up and I felt quite at ease and all the volunteers knew each homeless person, not in huge detail, but to ask how their week had been etc. I was to learn that one guy was about to do a week behind bars for not paying his TV Licence, and how one guy busked his way from Milton Keynes to Bath to catch up with some friends. There was also the tragic story of a guy from Isle of Wight who lost his job, his home, everything! But he seemed to be surviving on the streets ok, and knew how to look after himself. Which I'm sure is something you quickly develop sleeeping rough.
Before we make our last stop, we're in search of 'Wolfie' or 'Wolfman'. It's a quick drop off of sandwiches and I got to see where he was sleeping, underneath an underpass with a bin full of crushed lager cans and a few sheets to protect himself from the wind and rain. He wasn't 'home' when we came to see him, but left the sandwiches on his bed.
8.15pm - Our final stop outside of the Library and as we're about to attach the table legs and prepare the last sandwiches and flasks, armed ready to serve tea - we find a load of chips on the floor to which one volunteer remarks with "Chips? We've got no chance of shifiting these sandwiches now!" Like anything, a job for example - it's not always the work but the people you work with that make the difference. And their humours definately helped set me at ease and feel quite welcomed almost instantly!
We only had a few homeless guys at the last stop, but they were more than greatful for the remaining sandwiches and even taking the last few banana's and apple's on offer! At every stop, I was overwhelmed how appreciative they all were and just generally thankful for us being able to give them something they could rely on.
8.40pm - We return back to the church to unload, wash the soup flasks and discuss how they all thought the new 'Dr Who' was terrible, before we're back on the road and heading home as quickly as we arrived!
I could barely sleep last night, trying to take everything on board, what I had seen and heard, then I looked around my bedroom. I have a nice bed, thick duvet, DVD player, Xbox etc. It really makes you appreciate everything you own.
