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**Original Story**

Hello Bakotopians:

Have you ever walked the streets of Bakersfield

and noticed that there is an increase of the homeless?

So many of us are blinded with our every day

business that we don't notice these people at all

let alone that there is an increase in their numbers.

Have you ever talked to these people?

I mean sat down and had a "real" lengthy heart to heart conversation?

Most people are turned off at the very thought of it.

But the pure fact remains that any one of us

could be in their situation at any time. Believe it

or not it is possible.

Here Is My Story:

We were celebrating my husbands 20th Class

Reunion over this past weekend.

It was a three day event filled with

fun, food, and excitement.

The last day was spent at Beach Park in which we had

a huge pick nick.

{Again, Lots of fun and lots of food}.

Towards the end of the day it started to cloud up. Rain was

in the forecast so we all started to clean up to get ready to

leave. To escape to our warm cozy houses with our loving

families.  We all said our goodbyes and well wishes.

And  made the promise that we will see each other

again real soon.

We had already made plans for the future reunions

we would have together.

My husband and I were on the Planning Committee so

we stuck around a little longer with the rest of the committee

members and a few others to talk a little while longer and

congratulate each other on a well planned and successful event.

At that point a homeless man had walked up and very

politely asked for our used soda cans and plastic bottles.

That is when a class member and myself struck up a

conversation with this gentleman.

At first he was a bit shy and timid. We got the impression that

he was trying anything not to intrude on our party. 

We invited him over to take what he wanted.

We helped him fish out a few cans out of the

garbage from our party that overflowed with discarded 

food. There were whole hamburgers, chips, cookies etc.

I had a sudden horrible thought.

Here we are "stuffed" to the gills with food and

content with happiness from the last three days

with our dearest friends, families and classmates.

And here is a man that is out here in the harsh 

elements every day just struggling to survive off

of what ever he can scrounge digging through

mounds of food that we had thrown out.

So we promptly package up a box of food that had not

been thrown out to give to him. But it was food that would

only keep for a day or two.

As we talked to him we discovered that he was known as

The Mayor Of Beach Park.

He was a representative and or sort of President

to all the homeless people that ended up in the park.

 He would organize the group and go about collecting

what the group would need.

He told us many stories of how he got there and

the stories of others.

On last count he told us that there were about

12 people in their group that reside at the park.

At that moment we saw three others in the park

going garbage can to garbage can getting cans

out of the garbage.

{It was weird because during our festivities we did

not notice them at all. But now we could see them

clearly}.

The Mayor told me that they were just waiting until

the parties and the soccer games were over to

collect what they could. Waiting so that they would not

disturb us.

{Disturb us! Oh my gosh, when you think about it we

were the ones invading their home!}

I looked around for the other 12 and he told me

that some were down collecting wood in the near

by river bed so that they would be able to cook

their evening meal and to stay warm.

He wanted to make sure he would have everything

ready for all that would show up soon for food.

This is their daily routine. When all the soccer players

and patrons of the park end their days at the park they

start in collecting cans, searching for food, & wood.

And figuring out were they all would sleep for the night.

He told us many stories but one in particular struck home.

There was a teenager that had been strung out on Meth.

He had ended  up in the park wandering in a daze.

They took him, shared their food with him, and got

him back on track.

He is better now and he told us that this boy even

came back to visit them to let them know that he was ok.

He told us of the awesome Potato soup that they had

made the night before from scraps that they had found.

He made enough for all of them and he was particularly

proud of this.

They may even eat the rest of it the next day.

That is as long as it had not spoiled from the day before.

But even then they may have to eat it anyway.

{That’s right folks! They don't have a refrigerator or even

sealed containers to keep it fresh!}

He told us about the time one of the churches had

brought out a wonderful sheet cake of banana nut bread.

But they had to leave it on one of there designated areas

while they went about the day of getting things that they

would need to survive the night.

Well some one came along and had stolen it.

But he had a good attitude and figured

“Well they must have really been hungry to take the

whole thing". And so he had to be ok with that. {WOW}.

Can you imagine?

No I don't think that most of us can or have any idea

unless you have actually had to endure this

kind of life. If you can call it a life.

The last thing that he told us as we handed over the leftover

food to him was that he was thankful that he could help all

his buddies in the park and others that came along looking

for help.

And the hopes that his Social Security check will

come in after a "five year" battle that he has had to get it!

That way he could get off the streets. 

You see this loving caring man, The Mayor Of Beach Park,

This Angel Of Mercy to all the Homeless, had been a

 Contractor, a Builder, a Musician, had a Family, had

traveled all over the world doing various jobs, etc.

And then had been denied his dues.

And because he had nothing and was unable to work

because of an injury that he had received while working.

He was stuck in the situation he was in. HOMELESS.

Think about it people. This could be you or me. 

 So to make a long story short :

I am collecting what I can for them.

And I Am Asking For Your Help Bakotopians.

Clothing, Canned Food, Blankets, Especially jackets,

Money to buy items and clothing from the Good Will Store,

anything that will help them.

{They recently had all their cooking utensils

stolen as well so if you have any left over pans

or pots that would be great}

If you are interested in helping please contact me via e-mail

instantkarmaentertainment@yahoo.com

or here on Bakotopia.

Anything that you can do to help these people,our

neighbors will be greatly appreciated.

Bless this man for what he does. He found

himself in a bad situation but has over come it

{some what} and helped others in the process.

***Oh by the way on a personal note***.

The Mayors name is Ron. And to me he looks

like a Saint or even Santa Clause.

Thanks for listening