By David Wiggs, Project Homeless Connect volunteer

I was an exit interviewer for Project Homeless Connect.  It was my job to ensure our guests got all the services they required, that they were welcomed and treated with dignity and respect.

Through this job, I was able to connect with Project Homeless Connect guests. John* was one of those guests.  As he was leaving, we talked about how his day had gone.  He seemed happy and very pleased with a shaving kit of toiletries he was leaving with, but there was one thing he desperately needed: boots.  The ones on his feet were muddy and ragged and looked three sizes too large.

I checked my list of services, “Yes” I told him, “there are boots up at the Annex building being provided by a Veterans group” and I started to give him directions.

He shook his head and looked at his ragged boots “nope” he said. He had already been there, and they didn’t have his size.

I thought for a minute, how could I get this guy some boots?  Then I remembered the practically new hiking boots in my closet that my brother-in-law had sent me a few months before.  They were too small and I had hung onto them hoping to find a friend who could use them.  I had just found him.

“What size are your feet?”

“About nine and a half.”

“Perfect,” I thought.

I met John the next morning not far from the tent where he lives with the boots and some new socks.  My eyes teared up as he excitedly laced the boots around his ankles. 

“These fit great, thank you!” he said.

I was thrilled.  It was a small thing, but it seemed to make such a big difference.  I wanted to help John out some more and asked, being careful not to pry, “Do you have everything you need?” 

“Yep!  I’m good.” He smiled as he shook my hand then thanked me again. John seemed to be standing a little taller as he walked off. 

That was the connect part of Project Homeless Connect.

*Names were changed to protect guests’ privacy