Kitsap Business and Economy

This from the Buffalo (New York) News …

DUNKIRK—Inspired by the author of a book about being homeless, a Dunkirk church is taking action to give comfort and cleanliness to the homeless.

First United Methodist Church on Sixth Street will open men’s and women’s shower facilities and a washing machine and dryer in honor of author Richard LeMieux’s visit to the community Saturday and next Sunday.

LeMieux’s “Breakfast at Sally’s” is a firsthand account of two years of living homeless on the streets of Bremerton, Wash. The book details his struggles to stay warm and find food for himself and his dog, Willow. Thoughts of suicide were stopped only by loyalty to his canine companion.

“Who would take care of Willow?” he reasoned.

In honor of LeMieux, the church has named its homeless project “The Willow Mission.”

The Rev. Amy Fitzgerald said parishioners were motivated to develop the rest-room facilities.

“They read the book and decided to take action,” she said.

LeMieux was impressed. “Pastor Amy is so enthusiastic,” he

said. “I have never experienced anything like what is being done in Dunkirk.”

LeMieux’s account of homelessness has drawn widespread attention, including in Washington, where he lives, and in Ohio, where he was a newspaper sportswriter for 17 years.

Once a successful writer and publisher, LeMieux said that as one of the homeless, he often felt like he was just watching the world from the outside. But his loss of family, friends, wealth and possessions taught him about the power of friends and people who care.

He has been transformed. “Since the book was published I have

taken my life from the depths of despair, depression, fear, anger, bewilderment and not caring to now — and now I want to live forever,” he said.

“I want to enjoy the opportunity to help others,” he said.

LeMieux said he still goes to Sally’s — his pet name for the Salvation Army – where he enjoys meals, talks to homeless people he knew from his years on the streets and encourages them to help the new homeless — those impoverished by the economic slump — find their next meal or a safe place to sleep.

“Honestly, at one point I thought there was no purpose in my life, but the book has taken on its own life,” LeMieux said. “People like those at the church in Dunkirk are writing the next chapter.”

A simple shower was an important issue when he lived on the streets, and he was lucky enough to have someone at the YMCA allow him to use the shower free of charge once a week. LeMieux said he found safety in churches and eventually, a pastor and his family helped free him from a life on the streets.

LeMieux, who currently draws Social Security, lives in a small apartment. He hasn’t forgotten the hand extended his way and offers rides to the homeless and spends most of his time trying to help out when he can.

He will speak and sign his book at 6:30 p. m. Saturday in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 328 Washington Ave.

LeMieux also will speak at the 11 a. m. service next Sunday in First United Methodist Church.

This entry was posted on Sunday, April 19th, 2009 at 10:09 am by Rachel Pritchett and is filed under Uncatagorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.