photo of good shepherd
WITH KAY IN PHOTO
Kay Blyth’s sister dropped her off at
Good Shepherd Center on Feb. 5. She
remembers when she first arrived, she
was in shock and would not talk to
anyone.
“I have just myself,” she says. “I
never thought I would be here. I never
thought I would be homeless.”
Blyth, 50, was left without anything
when her 22-year marriage ended.
In Virginia, she worked as an
attendant caregiver for a child with
Down syndrome. Blyth is now living
down the street from Good Shepherd
and looking for a retail or customer
service job.
“That would give me a chance to get
back on my feet,” she says.
She relied on Good Shepherd for
everything down to basic necessities,
like soap and shampoo. Working in the
shelter made her gain back her sense
of self-worth and responsibility.
She plans to set up an emergency
fund, so she never finds herself
homeless again.
Above: Good Shepherd guests’ bags — which often include
all of their wordly possisions — are searched for weapons,
drugs and alcohol before coming into the night shelter.
Right: The Good Shepherd Center began as a soup kitchen.
During the past year, Good Shepherd served approximately
350 meals daily.
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WBM september 2013