The scene last Saturday as Jeff Padilla and volunteers for Compassion Through Action distribute hot food, sack lunches, clothing, shoes, toiletries, used backpacks, blankets and more. If there is a special need for certain items, Padilla will post it on the Compassion Through Action Facebook page so that donations will be received for the following Saturday’s distribution. Courtesy photo

BY JEFF PADILLA
Compassion Through Action
Española

We care about you. We don’t presume to understand what you’re going through. We don’t know your past and we don’t judge you for your struggles. Our default is love.

This is why we do what we do. We spend our money, we gather donations, we order hygiene items on Amazon, we cut your hair, we make hot food, we provide sack lunches and fresh fruit, we offer coffee and sodas and other drinks, we feed your dogs, we offer you clothing, shoes, and blankets, we invite our partner agencies who offer you free help in getting clean and off the streets. We continually ask the community to help us help you.

Our hope is that each of you makes the decision to seek a better life. We know you are not happy and we want to see you happy, living a life of meaning and purpose. We all are willing to help you every step of the way if you choose a better path.

Yet, our compassion does not come without limits. Every time you choose to steal from a store, break into a car or a house, start fires, fight amongst yourselves, prey on the weak, mistreat your dogs, you become a menace to society. You make it increasingly difficult for us to justify making the sacrifices in our lives to help you.

And if you think that most people just wish that you were gone, you’re right. Some elected officials try to find an answer to the “homeless problem” mostly to silence the criticism from residents. Others express disgust because they remember a time when there were no homeless people in Española. People view you as a scourge on society.

Yet, there are still many others in our community who have hope for you. Whether they are your family, friends, classmates, neighbors, they feel sorry for you and they want a better life for you. They want to show you their love for you, not out of sympathy, but out of a genuine connection they once had with you.

And then there are us. The people who are not connected to you personally, but still care very much for you. You have no idea how much we are willing to help you succeed!

Here is an example of what could happen for you:

You decide to get off the streets and enter a program to get clean. They have the resources to help find you housing. Once you complete the program and move forward, we will be there to make sure you are comfortable in your new home. The community will help you with furniture, kitchen items, bedding, toiletries, food, etc.. We will help you find a job. And, yes, if you reach this point successfully, we will help you find reliable transportation.

This is how much we care about you, in seeing you succeed in life! The only one stopping you is you. Are you ready to take that step?