KAREN'S COMMENTS
- Karen Wescott
- Dec 4, 2018
- 2 min read
DECEMBER 4, 2018:
Such an exciting season we are in! So many amazing happenings going on all around us! Not just the holidays, but the GOOD NEWS about friends and loved ones. Here are just a few:
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Lynda Z: Lynda lived on and off the streets for over 17 years. Lynda met Manny Flores when he brought her a plate of food on his nightly sojourn to those on the streets just a few years ago. She showed him her art – nail polish painting on bottles, bowls, cardboard, canvasses and whatever else Lynda could amass in her belongings. Manny promised Lynda an art show and in the Spring of 2017 Lynda’s art was shown as part the Van Nuys Art Walk, sponsored by Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian. There she sold some of her pieces but, more importantly, she re-entered society as a productive and creative member of her community. Lynda moved several times on the streets but stayed in the SF Valley area and, in January 2018, Lynda entered a shelter and was determined to stay until housed permanently. Just a month or so ago in October 2018, Lynda was placed in a beautiful one-bedroom apartment in North Hollywood. Her art now adorns her own space – not to be taken away by L.A. Sanitation or any other agency. Lynda's art has also been shown at the SFV Cultural Arts Center and at the Museum of Social Justice's exhibit ONE OF US (above) by David Blumenkrantz. God bless Lynda and keep her in her new home for a long, long time!
George B: George ended up on the streets of North Hills with an addiction to alcohol, beaten down and demoralized. He came to North Valley Caring Services for breakfasts and there met Manny Flores. Manny (who takes an interest in all his fellow human beings), talked to George about his addiction and his hopes and dreams. George began to help clean up after the breakfasts, and the Lord strengthened his relationship with Manny. One day, in October of 2017, George went to Manny and told him he wanted to get sober. George wanted to re-unite with his children, and become a servant for Christ. Manny found an available bed at the Tarzana Medical Center in their re-hab unit, and so George began the path to becoming sober. Just this past October George celebrated one year of sobriety. He graduated from the Tarzana program, lived in a half-way house, and now lives in a sober-living apartment in Long Beach with a job doing tee-shirt graphics. Not only that – but George has become a MENTOR for others in his chapter of AA! Wow! Such a long journey, but so worthwhile.
These are just some of the stories we are celebrating. We’ll keep you posted on more incredible life transformations!
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