Post by Linda Miller, Uptown Shelter Volunteer & Community Resource Coordinator
As I entered the event hall in the Federal Reserve I was greeted by Demetria Jones from the United Way. She escorted me to a seating area with James Covington and his guest. James had never spoken before formally in front of a crowd about his life journey. When I asked him if he was nervous his answer was a distinct “Not Really.” Which is the answer anyone that knows James would expect.
The room was filled with upper level executives from Duke Power, Federal Reserve, United Way, Councilmen, Councilwomen and other Non- Profit Agency Administrators. Live background music was playing in a far corner. There were stations of finger foods and beverages set ups with servers attending. The lighting was dim and the mood was one of expectation.
James Covington was introduced to share his story about living through addiction and receiving life saving help from the Uptown Shelter and especially Brian Harris, his case manager at the shelter. He spoke so honestly and emotionally that people in the crowd were moved to tears. There was one very moving point he made in his presentation when he spoke about believing he was being guided by God as he stood on a bridge overlooking a highway and he considered jumping. Something inside of him refused to end his life. He decided instead to go to the Uptown Shelter were he received life saving support. He told of working our program and being guided by Brian. He said boldly “If it weren’t for the shelter I would be dead and not standing in front of you right now.”
He is now going to college and working on his Masters Degree in Human Services. James also comes twice weekly to volunteer at the Uptown Shelter to give back and comes to the Shelter on Sundays to pick up residents to bring them to his church so they can discover God as he did.
He ended with saying, “Someone once asked him what he was going to do to get the other homeless off the street?” He turned that around and asked that person what they were going to do.
The room was filled with upper level executives from Duke Power, Federal Reserve, United Way, Councilmen, Councilwomen and other Non- Profit Agency Administrators. Live background music was playing in a far corner. There were stations of finger foods and beverages set ups with servers attending. The lighting was dim and the mood was one of expectation.
James Covington was introduced to share his story about living through addiction and receiving life saving help from the Uptown Shelter and especially Brian Harris, his case manager at the shelter. He spoke so honestly and emotionally that people in the crowd were moved to tears. There was one very moving point he made in his presentation when he spoke about believing he was being guided by God as he stood on a bridge overlooking a highway and he considered jumping. Something inside of him refused to end his life. He decided instead to go to the Uptown Shelter were he received life saving support. He told of working our program and being guided by Brian. He said boldly “If it weren’t for the shelter I would be dead and not standing in front of you right now.”
He is now going to college and working on his Masters Degree in Human Services. James also comes twice weekly to volunteer at the Uptown Shelter to give back and comes to the Shelter on Sundays to pick up residents to bring them to his church so they can discover God as he did.
He ended with saying, “Someone once asked him what he was going to do to get the other homeless off the street?” He turned that around and asked that person what they were going to do.
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