it really was an amazing trip. very eye-opening to see how devastated detroit has been by so many different events. before the race riots in 1967, the population of detroit was 2.3 million people. today it is 900,000. now, many of those people have moved to the suburbs but certainly not 1.4 million. so many left in the late 60s and 70s and recently more have moved away to find work because of the decline in the auto industry. the city of detroit has an unemployment rate today of 23%.
during our week, the six of us gave food, clothing and conversation to many people - some who have been on the streets for years and some just a few weeks. the habitat for humanity house we worked on in eastern detroit was in one of the worst neighborhoods (and let me tell you - there are many bad neighborhoods). on the block we worked on there were 7 burned out houses, probably 9 or 10 empty lots where a house used to stand and probably another dozen with boarded windows and doors. the wendy's we went to afterward had no diner. the drive-thru had bullet-proof glass and a open and slide system similar to some bank drive-thru's or an all-night gas station booth.
needless to say, the six of us spending a week cleaning up the streets and serving breakfast won't solve any problems. but it was what we can do right now. cheryl and i hope to spend at least a day soon volunteering here in columbus. i guess its like that starfish poem, we might not be able to save the world, but we can make a difference for someone...
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