(techno music)
(uplifting music)
- Hi everybody.
We're here in front of the Union Gospel Mission in Seattle.
We're about ready to go out
with their search and rescue team.
Right now, the volunteers are all bringing stuff,
loading up the vans, and now we're going to go
hit the streets. Come along.
- Everybody, this is Kristine.
- Hi everybody.
- She runs the Tuesday night volunteer group.
She's actually got a plant she's taking out on the streets.
- Yes.
- So now, why are you doing this for four years?
- I do this because I love everybody on the streets,
and I want them to know that they're important,
and they're not invisible.
- You've been doing this for-- - Four and a half years.
- Every Tuesday? - Every Tuesday.
- That's great, and you bring your dog.
- Yes I do. - And you're taking a plant.
Tell me the story behind the plant.
- The plant is going to a homeless veteran named Frank
who we got an RV for yesterday, so he got his first home.
So it's his housewarming gift. - Awesome.
(uplifting music)
Hey everybody.
This is the Search and Rescue's first stop tonight.
This is Frank. - How are y'all doing?
Yesterday, Frank was sleeping rough,
and now thanks to this group of people,
Frank's got an RV.
Tell me the story real quick.
- I met Frank three years ago, Search and Rescue.
I offered him a sandwich,
and he recited a few choice words to me,
and he wouldn't take it.
Several Tuesdays later, I got Frank to take a sandwich,
and from that one sandwich,
it blossomed into one of the best friendships
I've ever had. - Yes, yes, family.
- Family. - Family.
- And earlier, you were showing us around,
all the cool stuff. - Yes, yes.
A brand new Honda generator.
I got a 36-gallon water tank and 36-gallon sewage tank.
Everything essentially runs on gas and electric.
- Yesterday, he was sleeping on a loading dock,
and on Memorial Day, an amazing veteran
came and donated his RV to another amazing veteran.
- Oh, I'm telling you.
This here is like the bomb.
I'm still at awe, and I thank you, I thank everybody.
- Completely changed my life.
- Y'all changed mine. You gave me life.
- (stammers with emotion) It's perfect.
- Yes.
- Richard runs the Search and Rescue.
- Yes I do.
- And you were actually helped by Search and Rescue.
- Yes, about two-and-a-half years ago, in March 2013,
I had been an addict for like 37 years.
Lost all hope in my life, didn't have nobody,
didn't have God in my life,
and I was sleeping on the waterfront on a cardboard box
with a sweatshirt as a blanket.
Just was in the deepest darkest place
that you could ever be in your life.
I reached out to God for some reason
and just asked for some intervention, pretty much,
and like a half hour after I prayed,
the Search and Rescue van came and picked me up
and told me everything that the Union Gospel Mission does.
Told me about the recovery program.
I got into a recovery program
and have been on Search and Rescue this whole time
as a work therapy, and now I get to go out
and do it as a job.
(uplifting music)
- Hey everybody.
Oh my gosh.
The vans go out seven nights a week.
Here we've stopped underneath this underpass.
About 25 people living in about 15 tents.
A couple people just sleeping out in sleeping bags.
This gentleman over here showing off his boots
that were given to him. He's dancing around happy.
People over at the van, getting food,
just talking, fellow-shipping.
Just really an amazing experience
going out with UGM's Search and Rescue vans.
Really blown away about how it's volunteer driven,
and oh my gosh, in love with everyone.
(techno music)