While I do a bit of volunteering with the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, this story is about another charity, which I won't name. It's basically a Protestant outfit to which we donated a fridge and freezer a couple of years ago, as Vinnies won't take electrical items.
I was talking to one of their volunteers recently, and he told me that at one time he'd had a wife, family, nice home and reasonably good job. But then he had a (motorbike?) accident. The painkillers he was on contained morphine, to which he became addicted. From there I presume he became a drug addict.
Somehow he became a Christian, and kicked the habit, but in the meantime lost his job, wife, family and home, which he wouldn't have time to regain as he's now middle aged. But he's now doing what he can to help others through his service with this charity.
I might add a story related to me by another Vinnies member. He and another person went to help a lady who had no power, no furniture, and a family to feed. They gave her some assistance with the food, and probably made arrangements to help her to get the power connected. They were also going to put in a request for furniture.
But as they were leaving one of the neighbours happened to be watching. He asked them why they were there. They told him and then left.
For some reason the chap I know dropped back to see the lady a few days later, to check on her furniture order, only to be told she didn't need it. Apparently the neighbour who had seen them leaving a few days before had gone up and down the street door knocking to see if the other neighbours could donate surplus requirements.
And when the Vinnies member went back, she had a house full of furniture.
Due to another neighbour who had seen the need and decided to do something about it.
