Who says that miracles don't happen every day?
A longtime Member of Outreach in Burnside approached Laurie this afternoon with a wallet he had found at the corner of 3rd and Everett, one block north of Outreach. The wallet belonged to a man from Pennsylvania, here for business or pleasure, and it was full of credit cards, receipts, identification, and cash.
I phoned one of the credit cards to cancel the account, and then checked whitepages.com and left word on his home telephone, hoping that he would get the message and call to retrieve the wallet.
Less than an hour later, that man phoned, and said he was at the Chinese Classical Garden, and could he pick up the wallet. He promptly arrived at Outreach in Burnside with his wife. They were visiting his brother in Portland, and somehow his wallet fell from his person. When they first realized the wallet was missing, they wondered how he would board the return flight home.
But what is allowing that man to walk confidently through the airport when he returns is the honesty of the Member of Outreach who recognized that the found wallet, with its cash and other valuables, belonged to someone else. He did the right thing, taking it to a place full of trust, handing it to a person he trusts, not even taking a dollar for his own use.
This is the value of Outreach in Burnside: we build a network of relationships and accountability, a community of trust and love. This sets Outreach in Burnside apart from so many organizations. A note about the Member who returned the wallet: he was forcibly evicted last week from his apartment after appearing drunk in court, and not keeping his room clean or safe. Through Laurie's assistance, he found another hotel that would rent to him. This man lives with addiction and mental illness issues that would make any of us cringe, yet he is able to do the right thing.
During this new month, I ask you to consider the value of Outreach in Burnside. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to support this ministry of belonging. Our mailing address is 207 NW 3rd Avenue, Portland, OR 97209.
Sincerely,
Kris Moore
PS, If you are moved by this story, please forward it to others and ask them to make a gift too.
