VillageNews SUMMER 2011 | St. Vincent de Paul Village


LET NOTHING


COME BETWEEN YOU For Manny and Rick, the friendship’s the thing


Medieval writer Aelred of Rivaulx once wrote that “he who


is without a friend is entirely alone,” and St. Vincent de Paul Village couldn’t agree more. Because solitude isn’t conducive to recovery, we strive to create supportive relationships that are based in community. Even our CREED* engenders the qualities of a strong friendship, underscoring our belief that change happens best when it’s inspired by people who care. Many residents start friendships of their own. These peer relationships are often vital because they’re


Rick B.’s Story On the eve of Thanksgiving


in November 2007, I arrived in San Diego via Greyhound bus from Atlanta. Shortly thereafter, I was working and living in North Park. Being new to the area, I was cautious as to who to pick for friendship. Unfortunately, about a year later, I lost my job, suffered health issues and became homeless. People told me about St. Vincent de Paul Village, a part of Father Joe’s Villages. That is where I met Manny,


at the Village’s Paul Mirabile Center. Manny and I became really great friends. Whenever I needed someone to talk to or even to joke around with, he was always there. While at St. Vincent de Paul, I needed a left-hip replacement. Manny was there for me on Bug Day; he moved all of my belongings into storage in the early morning and then returned everything back to my cubicle that late afternoon. He later did it all over again when I needed a right-hip replacement. When Manny was in the Culinary Arts Program, I was so proud of him and even more proud when he completed the program. We both had been through some tough times and our close friendship helped us get past those times. This was really important to me, because good friends are diffi cult to fi nd. We talked just about everything and anything, which was good therapy. Later, I realized how much he helped


characterized by understanding and shared experience — a truism that friends Rick B. and Manny O. discovered first-hand. Both men graduated from the Village year and are now leading successful they took a moment


last lives. Recently,


enhanced recovery and how their bond remains strong despite


a 3,000-mile * Compassion, Respect, Equality, Empowerment, and Dignity. Manny O.’s Story Rick B.


me, when I was just being a friend


for him. Although


Manny and I came from two different parts of the country, him being from California and me New York, we had one thing in common: we valued the power of friendship.


In April of 2010, it was time for me to leave the Village. I went back to the Atlanta area and resolved some personal and legal matters. Then I got my driver’s a


car, and returned


license, bought to my


hometown in the western area of New York State. Currently, I own a disc jockey business called SOUNDZ 4


U!,


which I play music for occasions.


about in all


Village and San Diego, I often thought


Since leaving the Manny


and


wondered how he was doing. Finally, in January, I received an email from him and later we spoke on the phone. It was really great hearing from him and I am glad my friend is doing well. ■


Manny O. I met Rick at the Village’s Paul


Mirabile Center. I’m not sure exactly when because people came and went all the time. I had heard somewhere that


I should surround myself with people who are sympathetic to my cause. Rick was one of those people. I could talk to him. Because of our friendship, I was able to get through my situation with my sanity intact. Even though I wouldn’t have survived without Father Joe’s programs, one of the things that I learned during my time at St. Vincent’s was that friends are an important part of the healing process. We came from different backgrounds and from different parts of the country — me from El Cajon and Rick from New York. But those differences didn’t matter. We both ended up homeless and we both needed the safety net that Father Joe provided. Rick and I had a fi fty-fi fty relationship. Once he took me to Hometown Buffet. It was my


fi rst time there. Another time I needed 18 dollars to get my green card renewed. He loaned it to me. After I got hired and left the Village, Rick needed a few dollars for something and I was glad to return the favor. After Rick had hip- replacement surgery, I helped move his belongings into storage and then back again during bedbug day procedures. It’s what friends did for one other. It’s like that other saying I heard while living at St. Vincent’s: “When you help others, you help yourself.” I left St. Vincent de Paul


Village on April 21, 2010. I had graduated from the Culinary Arts Program and got hired at an Italian restaurant in East County. As the date of my departure from St. Vincent’s drew near, one of my friends suggested that I get the email addresses of the friends I wished to stay in contact with. I had never touched a computer before arriving at the Village and even though it was fairly new to me, I still managed to get a handful of email addresses. One of them was Rick’s. I am 30 months clean and


sober and for awhile it felt like there was no way I could ever repay the people who have helped me get where I am today. (Rick included.) But I can do my best by living life one day at a time and by taking care of my home and my health. It’s the least I can do for both myself and my friends. ■


to reflect on how their friendship gap. St. Aelred would


approve.


13


Can’t fi nd it? We did. Great buys at our retail outlets


AUCTIONS


DAY AUCTIONS 815 33rd Street


San Diego, CA 92102 (just north of Market St.)


Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8am preview, 8:30am auction (619) 446-2711


OTAY AUCTIONS 1595 Radar Road San Diego, CA 92154 Monday thru Friday 12pm preview, 2pm auction (619) 710-2454


VEHICLE AUCTIONS 1595 Radar Road San Diego, CA 92154 Monday and Thursday 8am preview, 9am auction


(619) 671-7900 Callers outside of


the 619 or 858 areas codes, call


1-888-FATHER JOE (1-888-328-4375) STORES


CITY DIGZ 1550 Market Street


San Diego, CA 92101 (between 15th and 16th Streets)


Monday thru Saturday, 10am – 6pm (619) 645-3333 FATHER JOE’S


FURNITURE WAREHOUSE (Warehouse behind)


3350 E Street San Diego, CA 92101 Monday thru Saturday, 10am-6pm (619) 446-2100


ST. VINCENT DE PAUL VILLAGE


THRIFT STORE (El Cajon/Fletcher Hills) 2325 Fletcher Parkway El Cajon, CA 92020


Monday thru Saturday, 9am – 5pm (619) 465-5840


MARTHA’S VILLAGE & KITCHEN


THRIFT STORE 45596 Fargo Street Indio, CA 92201


Monday thru Saturday, 9am – 5pm (760) 775-6060 ext. 0


DROP OFF DONATIONS


MAIN WAREHOUSE 815 33rd Street San Diego, CA 92102 Open daily 8am – 4:30pm (619) 446-2711


All proceeds support programs benefi ting the homeless. For free pickup of usable


household or business donations, call (619) 671-7900 or


1-888-FATHERJOE (1-888-328-4375)


Manny O. 1234 Main Ave. San Diegok, CA 91823


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16