My heart is truly broken here. In life, there are people who talk about being there for the homeless and those who are genuinely about being there. Ms. Shirley Raines was a hero of mine.
There was no fronting with her. She was as real as they come. She came to Skid Row a few years ago to help raise the self-esteem of people who routinely faced abuse and trauma on a daily basis. She was loving, but she took no stuff from them or anyone else while opening her heart.
She didn’t just come through, drop off items, and leave. She connected with the people. She kept coming to love on them. She knew their names, celebrated their birthdays, and glammed them up. To her family and crew, I am deeply sorry for your loss.
She was a real angel walking on this earth, who cussed a little sometimes. LOL. So do I. She deserved every accolade she received. One of my prayers to the Father when I go to work is that God lets me see goodness and hope.
He answered it every week when I saw that white van with the purple details on it and her inside being loud and loving, laughing and giving. I’m thankful to have met her. I’ll always cherish her nickname for me, “Mr. Chocolate.” I was blessed and inspired by her.
Rest in eternal peace my friend. Well done. Well done.
🚨 BREAKING: New footage shows explosions around Caracas, Venezuela, as parts of the city’s south near a major military base lost electricity. Low-flying aircraft were seen and heard from across the capital, according to Reuters.