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i caught don on here, and im'ed him askin him to let us know how hes doin...this is his reply: essage from Don Coplen: Sent February 02, 2009 05:25 PM
The shelter makes us turn cell phones off when we check in at 6:30 for a bed. They turn the lights on and wake us up at 4:30am, and we have to be off the property and back on the streets not a minute later than 5:15am. Failure to be gone by then gets one banned from sleeping there for 30 days. No warnings. You just come back the next night and they say 'tough luck".
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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That is one of those that will be in the back of people's minds.
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6451 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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It will sure be in the back of peoples minds and with that said, you have to wonder where those people are at. How come persons always take a negative road to evaluate what Stephen said while in his same reply said and I quote: Don and I have had brief chats over the years. I am wishing all will be well with him! I am not a believer in a man nailed to the boards but a believer in ManKind.
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But Joey, I am a believer of the man nailed to boards...
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6451 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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in this part of the country ...we treat our prisoners better then the homeless....
our goverment has arrested people for feeding to many at once
can easly get started... the less goverment the better .....
sorry about his luck hope he finds his way soon ..the library has alot of usefull and free stuff education and all shelters are just goverment hand out to trap ya and stamp ya....
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Craig, that's quite an interesting statement about 'treating prisoners better than homeless people' . . . I dare say, the difference might be this: at least a homeless person has an ongoing opportunity every single day to 'change his stars', while a prisoner has forfeited his right to freedom and hopefully, at least a few, have spent their time relishing the hope for freedom in order to enjoy their home again . . .
I speak as one who has been homeless though only breifly. Someone always needs some sort of work done . . . and to this day if I was without a dime to my name, I would scrub a toilet or rake a yard or something. $5 is not a humiliating amount when one is penniless. But a good work ethic will insure that one can next make $10, then $20 and so on . . . Even in it's economic turmoil this country is still bountiful in opportunities. With all of the (retrocative) disability benifits, medicare, medicaid, govmt. housing, food subsidies, and secular & church services, and even the opportunity for '3-hots-and-a-cot' in jail, the fact remains: the largest majority of perpetually homeless people choose to be so.
Disclaimer: This comment was not directed personally at Don whom I respect as a gifted & talented 'head, but was made directly to Craig as a converstaion intended to analyze our individual veiws of this nation's society in general . . .
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I remember, Don gave designs on CD to people on this board. If someone is doing something positive to return his kindness, I hope to get involved.
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Don said it best and I quote: I don't smoke, drink or do drugs. Believe it or not, that's a bad thing in my situation. They have programs for homeless with those problems. Since I'm not into any of that, I don't fit into anything they might have to offer.
Let me add this as a back up to Craig's reply. In the past I knew of many drug addicted persons who gone jail than to re-hab, some for years and eventually became a counselor making 50-60 grand a year. What amazes me is that these are the same persons who robbed and stole for their habit and could have done far worse. For those who wind up in prison, the government offers just about every program while they are incarcerated and although when they leave some go back to the life of crime and some don't, but either way they all are entitled to many more programs both inside and outside that are available but not necessarily for those who just got caught up in the moment such as our fellow letterhead.
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
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I'd just like to say that the whole discussion of charity has led to some great discussions and the awareness of the true good in most all people.
That makes me look forward to every single day. Lucky, lucky me . . . I have a home.
Sheila . . . I'd like to meet you. Your story is reflective of a few who have revealed similar situations in their lives to me once Don's story 'came out' . . . You are the kind of person who walks each step with gratitude and intention. You have 'been there' and you see both the need to show effort - and charity.
Some DO choose homelessness - and many do not. You do have to differentiate - but it doesn't mean you're insensitive or discompassionate . . .
I 'investigated' Don before I 'betrayed him' by revealing his private words in order to assist him . . . that was an obligation on my part - on behalf of the folks who might consider donating to helping him out. Otherwise we're just 'throwin' money at the same problem' . . .
Don didn't choose to be in this situation - and refused me once. Once I found out he had no 'demons' and was a stand-up guy, well, then he's got my help . . . and many others too.
As would you have my help, Sheila . . . and like Don, I've never met you either . . . but we share a bond through our chosen professions - so I feel somewhat obligated if the situation dictates. Don did a good thing for me once . . . he donated to Renata Guzman's Cancer Fund . . . sometimes karma takes a while to 'give back' . . . to remember that is called 'faith' . . .
Kinda' like the 'Motion Picture Home' in L.A. - where all the old film industry vet's go to spend their last days if they are poor. Charity starts 'at home' . . . with those you 'know' best . . .
If you only knew some of the stories behind this!! Each person answers to their own inside voice - in varied ways . . . some with incredible generosity and understanding - even if issues were there to prevent that giving from being obvious . . .
The heart always wins out in the end . . . Love always triumphs.
Amazing truths revealed . . . so intense and so good to learn.
-------------------- Jay Allen ShawCraft Sign Co. Machesney Park, IL jallen222@aol.com http://www.shawcraft.com/
"The object of the superior man is truth." -Confucius Posts: 1285 | From: Machesney Park, IL, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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don is the "proverbial teddy bear", has no malice toward anyone. 1st time i met him, i just wanted to hug him. in reality most of us are ONE DISASTER from his situation......and hes had MORE THEN ONE.....
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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Don is a brother with a temporary need. He's going to do something fantastic again for others, I know. He's just that kind of guy.
It's sometimes hard to appear upbeat when things are so tough. I'm not judging. You have my support Jay. Thanks for being a friend to our friend. It's what makes the world tick!
-------------------- Deb Fowler
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible - Walt Disney (1901-1966) Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
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Having known Don for years from this board, and you can get a pretty good judge of a person from here, I wouldnt even consider NOT helping him. Call it tough love or what you want, to me its just a cop out to not help. He needed help and he got it through Jay and others from this board. None doing it for any other reason than to just help out a fellow head having a hard time.
-------------------- Maker of fine signs and other creative stuff. Located at 109 N. Cumberland ave. Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-837-0242 Posts: 4172 | From: Ages-Brookside, Ky. Up the Holler... | Registered: Jul 1999
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