Albert Alexander, of the Chicago-based organization A Special Place for Veterans, also was there Thursday. He said the group’s holistic human health program works to house veterans, get them back into the workforce and feed the homeless, among other things.
“I [want] people to know that people still care, and that even though this is only a little bit, we’re still willing to do it as often as we can,” Alexander said.
Julio Mendoza, a Mexican immigrant who has been in the U.S. for 33 years, was one of the people served Thursday. He was grateful for the organizations and their services, which have been like “blessings from God.”
Mendoza became homeless after he had to get part of his foot amputated and was no longer able to work or pay rent.
He said due to COVID-19, he is unable to stay at a homeless shelter and he has no family to live with. But he still hopes to get a job so he can support himself.
That’s the long-term goal, Doty said: to help those who are homeless find employment or another way to earn a living.