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| Tony Monetti |
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This Ain't Brooklyn...a follow up
Tony Monetti
Special to the Star-Journal
Five months ago I wrote a short story concerning homeless children in Warrensburg and described what a team of concerned citizens were doing to help needy kids through the Connected Hearts organization.
I commented on how different our town of Warrensburg is compared to the large city of Brooklyn New York that I grew up in. Today I will share with you real life stories from some of the families impacted by homelessness in Warrensburg, some potential solutions that we can proactively anticipate in light of a declining economy, and lastly I will ask you to consider attending a meeting to discuss solutions as a community, for this worthwhile cause.
As a school nurse and founder of Connected Hearts my wife is in the trenches with many of the social workers and school administrators that deal with unbelievable situations daily when it comes to Warrensburg homeless children.
Tonight she shared with me some stories that turned my stomach. The names are fabricated, but I give you my word they are true: Eight-year-old Mary can't visit an oral surgeon even though her tooth has an abscess and is infected; yet this child literally can't afford not to see a dentist or it will continue to deteriorate and infect the rest of her mouth.
Mary's mom has no transportation to Lee's Summit, where the closest oral surgeon that accepts Medicare is located, and she can't afford any local doctors.
Mrs. Jones visited Jimmy, one of the many homeless children that live with her so that they can attend school.
Mrs. Jones is not a financially well-off person by any means, but somehow, she makes the monthly rent payment and houses these kids, for the time being. Frank, another homeless child, can't hear from his left ear due to a series of neglected ear infections. These are just a few of the stories she shared with me.
I asked her, "What are the greatest needs of Connected Hearts?" She quickly responded, "We need money, medical care, and transportation." Connected Hearts is trying to raise $15,000 by June 2009 - they have raised roughly $2500 thus far.
They are seeking the assistance of local doctors and dentists willing to work pro-bono to help homeless children. They need a lawyer to help with potential liability issues.
They need volunteers willing to go through a background check and drive kids to appointments.
Nearly all of the homeless kids do not have any form of transportation to get around and they rely on friends, neighbors, and churches to help.
One homeless boy's dream is to play on a basketball team; however, even though the school bus would drop him off at the Youth Excited about Sports (YES) program, he has no way to get back to where he currently calls home.
After listening to my wife's account of these children living in Warrensburg, I simultaneously thought of an anecdote I once heard...
A grandfather was walking along the beach with his granddaughter and as they were walking, grandpa picks up a sand dollar and tosses it in the ocean.
A few steps later he repeats the routine, over and over again, until his grand daughter says grandpa "what cha doin?" He responds, well you see these sand dollars will die if left on the sand due to the heat of the sun.
They need to be in the ocean to provide them with food, shelter and life. The granddaughter looked as far as the eye could see and saw hundreds of sand dollars and replied, but grandpa we can't save them all.
That's when grandpa picked up yet another one and looked at his steely blue-eyed granddaughter and said, you are right, but for this one it will make all the difference in the world.
I can't walk past this issue any longer and I am asking you to stand up along side others in this community to help local churches, schools and homeless organizations before this problem gets out of hand.
If you are not sure which group to help, I strongly encourage you to join Connected Hearts for their MAY 4th meeting at the Warrensburg Community Center at 6 p.m. in multiroom A&B. Just show up on Monday and join us as we continue to make this community a safe, caring place that continues to make a positive difference.
I am sure there are lots of other things you are involved with, but I feel compelled to ask you to show up. I promise it will be a rewarding experience.
Please invite others to attend, especially any in the medical or transportation field that can perhaps help. If you are unable to attend, but want to help, please contact me at (660) 747-8888 or stop by and see me at 214 East Culton for literature on Connected Hearts.
All of the monies go directly to the R-VI school district in a fund allocated only for needy school children. Warrensburg sure ain't Brooklyn, but that "ain't so bad now is it?" See you JULY 6,2009, at 6 p.m.
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