December 14, 2015.
New Orleans, LA USA This week a homeless man was given $100 and he spent a
portion of his winfall on a Christmas tree to lift the holiday spirit in his encampment.
Before long the city sent a sanitation crew out to remove the man’s tree. One
of the camp residents saved it from destruction but a short time latter the
tree disappeared again. The homeless men chased down the garbage truck with the
tree inside but all they were able to save was one red ornament. It appears as
though a Grinch had stolen Christmas!
Local TV news stations reported the story and explained that
the tree was a city code violation. The tent was also a code violation too but
luckily it was left alone. Viewers touched by the story started showing up with more
trees, ornaments, clothes, and food.
What was stolen from him was returned in abundance and the homeless man shared
the bounty with others in need.
For 22 years I have been documenting homeless people who
build shantytown communities [ http://www.marylou.us/chaos ] so I decided to
pay this man a visit. Our meeting
had quite a few interruptions because he had to keep excusing himself to go help
others. He was handing out donations and tended to someone’s personal medical
needs.
What the general population doesn’t consider is that when
social services fail to provide for homeless individuals then the
responsibilities fall on the homeless to take care of each other. In every
community you have some select few with big hearts and compassion that make it
their personal mission to be a caregiver. This is one of those men who will not
turn his back on others in need. People
like him act as parents doing what they can to care for the family.
My goal is to tell these stories through portraiture but
somewhere between the noise from the traffic above us and the wind blowing my
lights around I had a hard time getting his attention. He also seemed to be
distracted by the motorist passing by. People were honking and waving because
of his Christmas tree. Then he excused himself again to get something from the
tent.
I saw him with cardboard and a marker to make a sign that
read, “Help my friend on [the] corner.” He was worried that motorists were
distracted by me taking pictures and that perhaps the panhandler nearby was not
going to make any income.
So this Christmas season where ever you live please do as
this man does and extend some compassion to others. If the weather is cold, people need blankets coats, shoes
socks, hats and gloves. Consider what you would want if you were in their
circumstances. Give from your heart within your comfort zone. Give to
individuals or to charities of your choice. And when you do it…. Tell them that
“John in New Orleans” inspired you. Because if he can give to others when he appears to have so
little, then perhaps we can learn something from him.
I thought this would be the end of the story for now. It is
not. In response to the out pour of love from the community to this man the
city of New Orleans has given the homeless two days to evaculate all tents and
belongs from the underside of the bridge. With one week before Christmas the
homeless become even more homeless. Merry Christmas from New Orleans!
For more information visit
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#underthebridge #structureoutofchaos
#merrychristmas #photographerMaryLOUuttermohlen #homeless #tentcities
#ACLU #editorialphotographer #environmentalportraits #merrychristmasneworleans
