"Looks like the line is starting to come through. It's noon," I say.
"Time for lunch. Grab some big spoons and put a little of each thing on their plate."
I did as he requests, and help him serve every single person in line. This takes about an hour or so, and by the time we are done, he has made two plates for us and asks me to sit down with him.
"So, where are you moving?" he asks, as he stuffs some bread into his mouth.
"Massachusetts to be closer to my son."
"What do you do for work?"
"Firefighter, but not sure what I'll be doing out there. Haven't secured a job yet."
We continue conversating over lunch, and I find out he is a marketing executive. Is it rude to say I didn't see that being his profession? I think it's great that he volunteers to cook here for everyone. Selfless people seem to enjoy their lives immensely more than those that have everything. Normally, the rich folks seem stuck up, and don't want to deal with the people that are less fortunate. Yet, Craig, as he finally told me his name, is nothing like that. I learn he comes down on every Tuesday and Thursday to prepare lunch, as those are his days off from work. He usually spends the afternoon talking to everyone, and seeing what he can do to help them.
"You would be surprised at what they ask for. Once I had a man tell me all he needs is a good pair of shoes as he walks everywhere, and his feet have permanent blisters from having worn out shoes. So, that afternoon I took him to get some new ones. He could have asked for anything, but instead all he wanted was some new kicks."
"Wow," I reply, wondering if I could possibly help some of these people before I leave. One last way to help the community flourish.
"The people here aren’t worried about getting a hundred bucks, they want somewhere to live other than sleeping under a bridge or on a street corner. Heck, some of them need a break."
I nod, and ask to be excused, as I walk around the tables to the front of the room.
"Hello everyone, I hope you enjoyed your lunch. I am looking for someone who can be an on-site maintenance technician. If this is something you are qualified for, and you can provide a reference for a similar job, please come see me."
It didn't take but thirty-seconds, before a man walks up to me. The stereotype that homeless don't want to work is bullshit. There might be some that enjoy that life, but there are still people who want to work and can't catch a break because they have been unemployed for so long. He introduces him as Jason, and formerly worked as a Maintenance Coordinator at a local complex.
"Do you have a number to verify your employment?"
"Yes."
He hands me a card that looks to be years old. Wear and tear noticeable. "Thank you. Let me give them a call, and then I will come back and talk to you in a little bit."
I leave there, and head straight to the complex since it's a couple miles away, to talk directly with the apartment manager. If his employment checks out, and he's not lying, I can talk to my brothers about bringing him on board to help with the duplexes upkeep. We would be able to provide him a place to stay while he looks after the others. I am sure they both agree that it's less for us to have to worry about and helping someone who needs it makes it all the better.
The apartment office is up front, and a bell rings as I open the door.
"Hello, I'm here to talk to you about Jason Cox?"
An older woman is sitting behind a desk. "He is a former employee. What do you need?"
"I'm looking to hire him to help with maintenance. Can you confirm that is what he did here?"
She gets up from her chair and comes around the desk. "How is he doing? I felt so rotten for having to let him go, but when so many people lost their jobs, tenants started having to be evicted and we didn't have enough work to keep him."
"He is doing okay. So, can you confirm?"
"Yes, he was one of the best maintenance guys I've ever hired. Tell him that Sandy says hi, please."
I nod before heading out the door. As soon as I get in my truck, I dial Damon and it starts trilling over the Bluetooth.
"Hello?"
"Hey, not that I think you would be against it, but I'm wanting to hire someone to take over maintenance and upkeep of the duplexes. I figured he can stay in the vacant one and that takes it off you and Liam's plate while I'm gone. Sound good?"
He laughs. "I was actually thinking about this while I was on my honeymoon. Will be easier that way for both of us. You got a guy in mind?"
"Yeah, going to meet him now. If you and Liam want to meet me at the duplex in twenty minutes, you can meet him."