MOST OF US DONATE a little to charity or we volunteer our time somewhere. We feel proud of ourselves knowing that we are helping to make the world a tiny bit better. But every now and then we come across someone who redefines our sense of humanity and makes our contributions seem small. I met someone like this last fall. Her name is Sherry Cash.
It is Sherry's volunteer mission to help the humans that many of us shun -- the homeless, drug- and alcohol-addicted souls who are an uneasy fixture in our Downtown. Since 2003 she's shuttled them to doctor's appointments and homeless shelters. She buys them clothes, helps them sign up for medical and social services, drives them to detox centers and, most of all, she's been a friend when there was nobody else.
Getting these folks off the streets and to a place where they can help themselves is her goal. "That's so exciting for me -- when people start taking care of themselves," she said.
I recently spent a sunny Tuesday morning with Sherry. Her mission that day was to get medicine for a homeless woman who spends most of her days in Plaza Park. The woman can often be found crouching on the sidewalk, a position, Sherry explained, which is comfortable for her because she had been beaten and her hips did not heal properly. "Everyone's given up on her and that's exactly why I don't," Sherry told me.
Ghosts from the past haunt Sherry a bit -- a childhood spent with alcoholic family members, nights spent sleeping in a car and, most poignantly, a brother who died a year and a half ago after a life of alcoholism and homelessness.
BUT SHERRY REMAINS unfailingly upbeat and has had great successes. She tells the story of one man who was in the last stages of alcoholism and living in the park. "His stomach was distended, he'd lost control of his bowels. ... Now he's home with his brother, six months sober."
She's proud of the recent strides Ventura has made to help end homelessness and has volunteered for every effort. There is the Ventura Social Services Task Force, of which she's on the steering committee; new is the Sober Network, an effort to get alcoholics and drug addicts the help they need. The city has also joined forces with the county in the 10-Year Strategy to End Homelessness.
"We've advanced so far that now people are talking about us," she said.
Sherry is especially proud of the new One Stop Center adjacent to the Ventura County Medical Center and gave me a tour. "I could just cry. Isn't this heaven?" she exclaimed while looking around the room at the various stations set up to help people find medical, alcohol and drug, housing, and social services.
Kate Mills, the program administrator for the county's Health Care for Homeless program, said most visitors to the center, open every Tuesday from 10 a.m.- 1 p.m., are looking for housing. "Medical is low on the list. They're trying to get to a safe environment."
Mills praised Sherry's efforts. "I think she knows everybody. People who have problems turn to her." But she and others worry a bit about their friend. "She stretches herself really thin. If she's not here (at the One Stop Center), she's in the park."
Sherry's volunteer workload has been lightened since the city recently hired Ken Belden to do outreach to the homeless population Downtown. She dreams of opening a detox center like Santa Barbara's for chronic alcoholics. But as long as there are people in need, Sherry will be there.
"Mother Theresa said 'Walk out your back door,' " she explained.
Somewhere Mother Theresa is smiling at Sherry Cash.
For further information about the Ventura Social Services Task Force, call (805) 212-4856. You can donate to the Ventura Homeless Prevention Fund via the United Way. Make a check payable to UWVC/VHPF and mail to: United Way of Ventura County, 1317 Del Norte, Suite 100, Camarillo, CA 93010.
What an amazing woman, my hat is off to her. If only there were more people like her, it would give people in compromising situations a chance to look ahead. More people should reach out to one another, because the reality of life is that 'it's a cruel world" and if everyone helps a little our world could and would be a better pace.
Great blog Marie - thank you for this positive note - there are many great and giving people in our community and in this world - we need more focus on instances and acts of kindness and compassion.
Great article Marie! I'm always trying to explain homelessness to my children. They point out the strange looking people walking our streets and ask me who they are and why they have no home. The answers are not simple. We contribute food each month to our church which assists with the Family to Family food outreach, but it's only a gesture compared to what Sherry does every day. I'm going to have them read your blog about Sherry Cash and what the City of Ventura is doing to try and help "the least amongst us". Truly, a walk out our back door.
Blessings to Sherry Cash. Will be thinking of her and giving thanks in my prayers that we live in a community with a Sherry Cash among us.
Marie,
I'm so glad to see you give Kudos to Sherry Cash. She truly is one of our community angels. Most people, however well motivated, cannot do what Sherry does every day, but they can be inspired to do the most that they can by hearing of her example. I work with Sherry nearly every week on some aspect of our efforts to reduce the homeless problem in the city and to provide care for the ill, the frail, the addicted, the mentally afflicted and the poor and disadvantaged. We have few her equal. If I am at a committee meeting dealing with how to help one or another of these groups, Sherry is there. If I go to a community council to try to help them understand these problems, they often know of Sherry. I work with her on the Ventura Social Services task Force of course, and you can always count on Sherry to be an enthusiastic volunteer for every initiative we attempt to undertake to solve these problems and to serve real people with real hurt and need. Thanks for giving her the acknowledgement she deserves.
Thank you Sherry. You are a light in the darkness.
A wonderful commentary on a remarkable woman. Sherry has opened many hearts and minds to what a difference one person can make. The City of Ventura is addressing the issue of homelessness on many fronts including the Ventura Social Services Task Force which is bringing many people and organizations together to develop programs and strategies to end homelessness, as well as Peter Brown's work with the City of Ventura. I also suggest that you visit the Artists Union Gallery(330 S. California St)to experience their current exhibition "From the Margins". This powerful show exploring marginalization in self, family and society includes an incredible photo/poetry/video study by Phil Taggart. This study of Phil's brother Rick and others in our homeless community truly puts a real face on the people that we see and so often fail to understand. The show is open until April 27. Other activities re: Homeless Ventura include a Film Night: Exploring Homelessness on March 30 6-10 at Artbarn 856 E. Thompson, a Homeless Panel Discussion April 10 7:00 pm at the Artist's Union Gallery and a Poetry Reading on April 12 7pm at the Artist's Union Gallery. Armed with compassion and information Ventura can make a huge difference in changing the lives of many people.
The good news is that thanks to Sherry's lovable persistence, Maria is currently housed in a home, with roommates and the last time she got onto a bus and I saw her, she was sober, and looked absolutely beautiful! We had a great talk. And as soon as I got off the bus, I called Sherry to let her know that Maria was doing well, and was sober. That's the pay off - helping someone to get their lives together. Sherry Cash works with people to get housing that others will not, or will simply try to transport to hospitals or institutions. You GO girl!
December 21,
First day of Winter and longest night of the year...
Since, 1990, December 21, first day of Winter and longest night of the year, has been the "National Homeless Person's Memorial Day," a day to memorialize people who have died in our community, without an address.
An event is being planned for December 21, in Ventura, to memorialize homeless, who have died in Ventura, in 2008. More details will be released in by press releases, flyers and public announcements, as more information becomes available.
In most communities there is no official tracking of homeless deaths. So, in order to prepare for the Memorial, we ask you to consider providing some information. On December 21, 2008, we want to bring attention to our homeless friends who have died this year, and help determine just how many homeless have died during 2008, in our community.
Homeless people die from illnesses that affect everyone, frequently without health care.
Homeless people die from exposure, unprotected from the heat and cold. Homeless people die from violence, often in unprovoked crimes.
Remember our neighbors and friends who have have died without homes. Remember why they died.
Please consider helping us to remember our friends by providing info for a homeless friend who died in 2008:
1. Name
2. Age
3. Date of Death
4. Circumstances of their passing.
5. The city they stayed in, or closest to, at the time of their death.
Please email details to HomelessMemorial@gmail.com
Thanks,
Thank you, kind1, for the update on Maria. I appreciate it.
Sherry is one of the finest people I know. Since I wrote this, Turning Point honored her and several others who work with the homeless.