Getting lunch
May 7th, 2009 at 10:25 am by Mark Allen under Mark Allen's Blog
Everyone has been so supportive. I was sitting in Gilbert Park for a while and everyone who passes by has great things to say. Everyone driving by honks and waves.
All of the people at the station have been worried about me. They have convinced me to eat at the Lighthouse Mission for lunch. Lots of viewers have suggested that since homeless people go there to eat, it’s ok for me to go there now too. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers.
The people at the Lighthouse Mission have been great too. While I haven’t been staying there, they keep checking on me. I appreciate what they have done for me and all the homeless here in Terre Haute.
Tags: homless
I grew up in Clay County, Indiana where I still reside. I began my career at WTWO television before joining News 10, WTHI in 1990 as co-anchor of the evening news. I have been m...
When one of my sons struck out on his own, he went to Owensboro, Ky. with a friend. He left with his levi’s, his Nike’s, and little money. After a few days of job hunting with no luck their money ran out. After awhile they grew hungry enough to search out the soup kitchen. They were turned away, because of their clothing. Luckily, they got a job the next day and their foreman rented them a travel trailer and his daughter fixed them 2 meals a day. My son passed away a few years later and this incident still preys on my mind. I feel for all the homeless out there and wish them all well. Hopefully they will never be turned away.
I know a lot of people do not really understand what it means to be homeless. I am sure a lot do not understand why you chose to do this. I can’t figure it out either but I am so glad you did! I have said throughout my adult life that everyone should know what it is like to be homeless. While I would never wish anyone the hardship of being without, the experience is priceless. I heard you say it would change your life. I hope it does and I certainly hope your experience changes others. I am glad you chose to eat at the Mission. They are a blessing and the experience there is part of the life of a homeless person. It is part of the whole picture and to receive help when you truely need it is a blessing. In addition the expereince of others providing for you, the things you are capable of getting on your own, if only you had the opportunity, is precisely what people need to understand.
God bless you and your work! Thank you!
Mark,
I have to commend you on this assignment. I want to know if this has been your most challenging assigment that you have ever done during your 19 years at WTHI . My hat goes off to you. Please stay safe and dry.
Dear Mark,
I believe that what you are doing has opened the eyes of many people. We were wondering if what you have learned on this assignment would inspire you to maybe do a little more for the homeless in the future? I would also think it would be great if you put your whole story together in the end and have a special on the homeless. anyway, stay safe, get some rest and God Bless you. You are a wonderful person.
Amanda, Don & PJ Fields
You are doing a great job opening up community dialogue, thoughts and hearts about homelessness, its existence in the Wabash Valley, and the daily reality of being a homeless person!
Thanks!!! bc
I appreciate you taking on this assignment. As a child growing up, we lived close to the train tracks. Often, homeless men would come from the trains to our back door for something to eat. We didn’t always have a lot, but my mom always gave them something to eat. I remember the men always being appreciative. I often wondered about these homeless men and how they survived. Thank you for doing an amazing job of reporting on this segment of our society. Becky and Merl Strosnider
Dear Mark,
I know your assignment is almost up, and you have to be so thankful for that. I have been tracking your progress and reading your blogs since you began. I truly commend you for doing this. By you, a local celebrity, doing this story the way you have chosen to do it…not just reporting it, but living it…has certainly opened a lot of people’s eyes. A great number of people think all homeless are lazy and want to be on the streets. I disagree. Nobody truly wants to be homeless, hungry, dirty, and tired. Thank you Mark Allen for putting so much into this story to make the public aware that this is a serious problem. We as Americans who have a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs and food at our disposal, should remember to pray for those who do not have. Your journey has made me realize all that I take for granted, certainly without meaning to. And hopefully, long after your story passes, we will all remember to be very grateful for what God has blessed us with, and remember to pray for those who do not have what we have. God bless you for giving this story your all!! And may God bless the homeless and give them HOPE.
I can repeat the above story, I grew up in a very small town in Iowa. RR tracks ran along the back of our property and often homeless men came to the back door for a handout. Mother always gave them something. At that time in the 1940’s they were refered to as “tramps” or “hoboes”. I wounder how their stories would compare with the people you have met on your trek?
jean