Stories from the Street: Joseph's Story

Joseph is a man with an easy smile and a ready handshake. He asks for money on the street, but he'd love to find work as a day laborer. Last week he was able to find work helping someone move into their new offices on Madison Street.

While in college at Grambling State, things were going well for Joseph. He attended school full time and worked part-time as a bank teller. Things went sour, however, when he was charged with a felony for selling drugs. He says he got caught up in how much money he could make in the drug business, though he says wasn't really a drug user himself. It was all about the money. He got sucked in and paid the price.

Today he's trying to keep the faith and find a good job, but it's hard to find work when you have a felony on your record. So Joseph takes life one day at a time and relies on the generosity of the strangers he meets. One man gave him the new pair of Columbia hikes shoes he wears, another man gave him the shirt he wears, and today he needs a dentist. He's battling a toothache and the only thing he can do is numb it for a while with a dab of Orajel every couple of hours.

Join me in supporting folks like Joseph as I work to raise $5,000 for men and women who are homeless while training for the October 2011 Chicago Marathon. Tax deductible donations can be made at http://www.active.com/donate/crossroadsrunners/edduffy

Stories from the Street: John's Story

John is a big man, standing over six feet tall. He's a big man, but he's also got a big heart. He's a husband and a father with three kids. They live on Lower Wacker Drive. John and his family are homeless.

John had high hopes when he finished his degree in Engineering at Mississippi State, but he's been unable to find a job in construction so he sits at the corner of Wells and Adams asking for money to support him and his family.

When I told him I was also looking for a job, he brightened up and offered me some suggestions of places to try. "Have you tried UIC or Illinois State?" He also cracked a smile when he started talking about being an uncle.

I don't know much more about John's history, but in this brief exchange with him I can tell he is a family man who just wants to provide for his family. He may be faceless and nameless to some who pass him on the street, but to others he goes by the name John, Dad, and husband.

Join me in raising $5,000 to help break the cycle of homelessness for women and men like John in Chicago, as I train for this years Chicago Marathon. I invite you to make a tax deductible donation at http://www.active.com/donate/crossroadsrunners/edduffy