Students uncover faces behind hope

Behind Holy Family Catholic Worker House at 31stStreet and Troost Avenue, one of the agencies receiving donations from the Harvest Food Drive, is a garden. It is composed of a dozen large planter boxes in which anyone can grow what they desire or collect fresh vegetables at the height of the season.

Of all the services Holy Family offers, from prescription drug assistance, to free clothing, to evening meals, nothing exemplifies its mission like the garden.

“Everybody comes,” a man named Jay, sitting on the porch in front of the house, said. “It’s not just for certain people; there is no barrier. Everybody’s welcome.”

Along with him are two other community members, joking with one another. One man stands out: his name is Mike, but those closest to him know him as “M. Jeezy”.

He sports a worn gray sweatshirt and a black wool cap which fails to veil his untiring sense of humor. He’s been coming to Holy Family intermittently since 1974 as both a patron and a volunteer. He has nothing but kind words concerning the agency that has helped him survive despite all sorts of hard times he has faced.

At the moment, he has a steady job working for the Salvation Army, yet he still spends his free time at the house, playing dominos and cards with community members and the legendary operator of the house, Brother Louis.

Even with his newfound stability, he still volunteers and recognizes the number of people who are able to make ends meet only with the help of Holy Family.

“It’s an everyday struggle,” M. Jeezy said. “There’s a lot of people who need help.”

The woman beside him, Deborah, is one such individual and is waiting to receive an evening meal. When asked about what Holy Family has meant to her, she ponders the question for a minute and responds gratefully that “there is God up in this house.”

Tags charity features Harvest food drive M. Jeezy