Church at Tent City

Nice, sunny morning downtown (through a side tent window).

Church service at Tent City
Ken Leslie, founder of 1matters
Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner

I went back to Tent City today.

When we got there around 10, they were about to start their church service/closing ceremony, which included a band, singing, clapping, laughter and lots of turned-my-life-around speakers, including the founder of 1matters.org/organizer of Tent City, an ex-felon and successful new vendor for Toledo Streets newspaper, and a formerly homeless pastor. Several shared poems they'd written during their lowest periods.

Carty (the mayor of Toledo) was in attendance and came up at the end to say a few words.

The main theme was take the love and fellowship you experienced at Tent City this weekend and do likewise to your fellow man every day of the year. And not because they are homeless or needy or any other adjective -- because they are fellow people.

I was planning to stay and help clean up a little, but the service ran pretty long, and we had to get going.



Even so, on the way home, we found time to stop and chow down at Toledo staple Tony Packos, my first time in years. Mmmmm, chili mac (chili and shredded cheese over wee dumplings), I miss you when I'm gone.