Editor:
Hi my name is Darlene Patrick, a member of the Lake Babine Nation, Grizzly Bear Clan.
I am writing this letter in regards to our community of 亚洲天堂 Lake being in desperate need of a men's shelter for homeless people. I've written a few letters to our all of local government officials and nothing came out of that situation so I had to take it to the next level and got a hold of Nathan Cullen. I am grateful he came to town to listen to what I had to say. We met at the A&W restaurant and we talked. I asked my friend Joe Heiney to tag along so he could tell his story of when he had no where to go and I took him in for a few months.
I've been doing my best to help the men in this town and I'm not doing this because I have to. I'm doing this because I care for my friends and I help a lot of strangers out too. I do this out of the goodness of my heart. Men passing though town, hitchhiking or get stuck here in town and someone phones me and say this man is stranded and no where to go. So I go downtown and bring him home and give him a place to sleep and feed him. The next day he's gone before I wake up.
My late mom Louise, used to tell me when I was at a young age I always helped people out and didn't ask for anything in return. God will repay you in his own way. Ever since then I always help as much as I can, even though it wasn't easy at times but I think God is using me for a purpose, to be there for men who are hurting and helpless until they are back on their feet finding a home of their own.
I know the RCMP, the 亚洲天堂 Lake Hospital and our Lake Babine Nation staff all help out with the homeless men in our town. I really want something done for these men. I want a mens shelter in our town.
A few years back the RCMP member that used to know me, he brought a few men to my place because there was no room at the detachment. They would ask where do you want to go and obviously he would say Dar's place. One time I ended up having six men in my home because there was no place to go. I would be sitting around with them and they would joke around about my place and say "Gee we might as well call your home a mens shelter," we all would laugh.
I don't mind helping people out as long as they respect my home and clean up after themselves. I cook for them, some would do their laundry and take a shower and they're gone the next day. I love my people, friends and strangers who come and go out of my house/home.
Please help me help them for a place to go.
God bless you all.
Darlene Patrick, Lake Babine Nation member
亚洲天堂 Lake, BC
