By Lucille Egan
It has been a difficult summer for me. I have always been extremely independent. Earlier this summer a car accident forced me to take a few months away from the one activity that truly makes me happy—and that is selling the Street Chronicle. People often said how wonderful it was that I drove at 90 years old—I was never one to sit around and wait for things to happen. Now it is a new chapter in my life.
I feel lucky that nobody was involved in the accident and I just needed time to recuperate. I often thought about my co-workers and customers during my time away. At times they all felt like family and I was missing everyone. I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to NEOCH, my co-workers at Street Chronicle, and those customers at the West Side Market who have been asking about me and wondering about my whereabouts. I was amazed at the concern; it meant the world to me.
I am elated to be back selling the Street Chronicle. One of the things I enjoy most is interacting with the public. It is so nice to see old faces and meeting new ones. Anyone who knows me, knows how much I especially enjoy seeing and talking to the children. Selling the paper gives me a chance to communicate by sharing news and articles about homeless people. The paper also provides information on ways to get involved should you want to help.
Buying the Street Chronicle is a good, small start. Take a look at the back of the paper and you will discover shelters that are dedicated to helping homeless people. You will see local shelter addresses and phone numbers for men, women, youth, and even domestic violence survivors. There is also a list of agencies like the Northeast Ohio Coalition should you want to help. If you would like to volunteer, reach out to these organizations using the contact information you see provided in the paper.
Lastly, I would like to say I feel energized from returning. Selling the Street Chronicle is not a job. I feel it is a labor of love and understanding for homeless people