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Recipient: Samaritan House help 'a miracle'
By Todd Hartman
Denver Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer
David Drum was an energetic man of 49 when his life took a disastrous turn.
A shepherd and ranch hand for most of his years, Drum enjoyed the rugged, months-long isolation of watching over cattle in the Colorado high country.
"Joy of Giving" is a Denver Rocky Mountain News monthlong campaign to make the holiday season a warm and joyful time for everyone. To donate to the Samaritan House, mail checks to 2301 Lawrence St., Denver, CO 80205. Information: (303) 294-0241. |
But last year, he had a major heart attack.
Drum spent his savings on surgery. Then, no longer fit for rigorous labor, he lost his job.
"My boss man said he couldn't use me no more," Drum said.
Since then, Drum has had three more heart attacks and is too weak for most jobs. If it weren't for the generosity of Samaritan House, Drum said, he would have died in the streets by now.
The Denver homeless shelter at 23rd and Lawrence welcomed him, providing food, shelter, medical care and — most important to Drum — kindness.
"I can't put it into words how much they have helped me," Drum said. "This place has been a miracle in my life."
The Samaritan House, a division of Catholic Charities, houses 350 men, women and children every night, offering emergency and longer-term shelter. Many have mental illnesses. Others are drug abusers. Still more are people, like Drum, whose lives fell down around them.
"Most of the people out there think people in here are drunks and winos — people get the wrong idea," Drum said.
The Rev. Ed Judy, in his 11th year as the shelter's executive director, sees plenty of people in difficult situations. But he takes pride in the lives turned around, or simply saved, by Samaritan House.
"It's satisfying," Judy said. "We're contributing something important to the community and its people."
Samaritan House offers plenty of beds for homeless people on a cold night, but it is also devoted to helping people get their lives on track.
Residents willing to make changes and work closely with a case manager and counselors can stay as long as three months while they line up a job and find a place to live.
Those who fail to abide by the shelter's guidelines don't stay as long.
"Their stay is evaluated weekly based on keeping to goals," Judy said. "We can weed out someone who's not serious."
For those who can't get by on their own, such as medically fragile or elderly people, Samaritan House often works with other local organizations to assist them.
Samaritan House depends almost completely on private donations to do its work, and financial contributions are always welcome.
Though it gets a good deal of donated clothing and food from the community, materials needed regularly are toiletries and personal care items, underwear and socks for men, women and children; disposable diapers; sheets and blankets; winter coats, gloves and hats.
While the hot economy and availability of jobs leads many to think the numbers of people down on their luck should be on the decline, the shelter hasn't seen any slowdown.
In fact, Judy said, higher housing costs and rents accompanying good economic times are one reason increasing numbers of families are seeking shelter at Samaritan House.
Shauna Thomas, 23, is staying at the shelter with her sister and her sister's children. Thomas' sister has a job, but the family doesn't have enough money yet to afford a place of their own.
In addition, Thomas said, she suffers from dramatic mood swings and has had a hard time making a go of life. But a caseworker at the Samaritan House is helping her.
"It's the first person who has sat down and listened to me in years," Thomas said.
Samaritan House, Thomas said, has rescued her family. Soon, they'll be out of the shelter and back on their feet.
"We were just excited to have a place to go — we would have been in some rundown, roach motel," Thomas said. "This place is a blessing."
Contact Todd Hartman at (303) 892-5048 or hartmant@RockyMountainNews.com.
November 28, 2000
