Our Time with Larry

This morning Notorious MGG and I, Disco Queen, went to help Jill at the food pantry. She introduced us to Larry, who was in charge of bagging the food for the homeless and unemployed. We started by checking experation dates on the donated cans while Larry organized the food to be bagged. At first, Larry didn't say much, but once he got talking, he mentioned he had a daughter in North Dakota. He mentioned he was going to visit his daughter soon and that he hadn't seen her in awhile. Larry told us he recieved a check with a letter saying he can't get cocky. When we asked him why his friend would say that, he told us how lately his face has been in newspapers and on tv. That caught out attention, so we asked why he was in the newspaper. He told us the mayor had given him an award for how far he had come and his service to the community. Then, Larry told us when he lived in North Dakota, he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and had to have surgery. He had rods placed in his back, so doctors encouraged him to move to a warmer climate. He was on his way to Florida, when he and his caretaker decided to stop for a meal at the Waffle House in Biloxi. While using the bathroom, his caretaker left with all of Larry's belongings, including his car and all of his money, leaving Larry homeless and stranded. Six months after becoming homeless, he heard about Back Bay Mission. They helped him out by giving him food and he eventually formed a bond with Jill. Jill helped get him off the streets and living on his own. Now Larry volunteers at the food pantry five days a week. He hopes to help others, just as Jill helped him. Although we only saw a few homeless people, we got to see the difference Back Bay can make in someones life. Working with Larry was a great way to start the week.