Message for the man in the shiny white Lexus

Daun walked to the grocery store on East Sherman in bone chilling 10 degree weather at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, to buy some Top Ramen. As she approached the cash register she coughed, and a young man, with a white Lexus parked outside, began loudly berating her in front of her friends and other customers. He told her "you are sick and spreading disease, go to a doctor, you are homeless on purpose, and you are on welfare and you won't get a job."

The man in the Lexus was correct about one thing; Daun is homeless, but she is trying not to be. She was heading to Fresh Start where she could spend the night, shower and not freeze to death. Daun joined some 30 others that night at Fresh Start. Through the generosity of Heritage Health, she and other homeless now have access to a doctor that brings services directly to them.

I volunteered and played guitar that night at Fresh Start, and I heard Daun's hurt. She was upset that a stranger would humiliate her in public when he didn't even know her.

In the book "Tell Them Who I Am" by Elliot Lebow, he said of the lives of homeless women: "You are not needed anywhere, not wanted anywhere. Nobody cares what you do. All the dreams are gone forever. You're just hoping for some force to end the nightmare peacefully." That's not true in Coeur d'Alene, thanks to the generosity of many people.

I wonder if that man was aware that 25 percent of our homeless are children. Would you yell at a child that way? Twelve percent of the homeless are veterans - yes, the ones who brought you your freedom.

That same evening I met Charlie, who has a delightful personality, and I found out the hard way that he probably plays my 12-string better than I do. He lit up like a Christmas tree when I lent him my guitar. A homeless man insisted that I take $1 from him in appreciation for my music (I don't play for money).

There was a woman with a beautiful Siberian husky-wolf mix dog. I asked her why the dog was depressed. She replied that they had lost their ranch where the dog used to be able to roam at will. His home was now shared with 30 people. The dog responded to my friendly pat. Like their owners, dogs go through the same trauma when they become homeless.

The Bible says, "The rich man and the poor man, have this in common; the Lord is the maker of them all," Prov. 22-2. And "he who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to the poor, receives many curses." Prov. 28-27.

Many members of this community are incredibly generous, both rich and poor. Dan Sebulksy drove all the way from Moyie Springs with five bags of clothing collected from his wife, for my homeless campout on Nov. 22. Organizations such as Union Gospel Mission, Salvation Army, Family Promise, St. Vincent de Paul, and many churches are incredibly generous to help the poor.

To the man blessed with the white Lexus, would you be willing to donate to Fresh Start?

In a touching book "Breakfast at Sally's," a man was wealthy (like the guy in the white Lexus), but he then lost everything including his family. This is a true story by a Seattle man who was helped by churches and the Salvation Army to re-enter society, thanks to the love of many others.

This is a difficult time of the year for Coeur d'Alene's homeless with record freezing temperatures. Can you donate clothing, sleeping bags, blankets or money to Fresh Start, where loving workers there like Justine, are willing to help people in their time of need? Contact them or me at (208) 704 -7774 or stevemarathon@gmail.com, to arrange a pick up of donated items.

Steve Bell is a Coeur d'Alene resident.