You gave Danny a second chance at life. Because of you, Danny found warmth, purpose and community
For over a decade, Danny drifted through life “just trying to stay out of trouble and other people’s way.”
At 68 years old, this veteran had spent 10 to 15 years homeless, sleeping wherever he could find a place to lay his head. “Survival,” he explains simply. “That’s all I was thinking about.”
His journey to homelessness began with a terrifying moment. Working as a maintenance mechanic, he got into an argument with his supervisor one day. That’s when, Danny says, “he pulled a gun on me. He told me, ‘People like you get shot.’ I left the job the next day.”
What followed was years of instability—working here and there, then losing work again. Eventually Danny made his way to Washington, DC, with no family, no support and no place to
stay. “I came here looking for veterans’ benefits,” he says. “But being in a city where you don’t know anybody? It’s hard.”
After a few months on the streets, a guy in a sleeping bag told him about “a place down the street” with programs. It turned out to be Central Union Mission.
Beyond a bed and a hot meal, Danny found something he hadn’t felt in a long time: community. “The people here—that’s what’s special,” he says. “We’re all in it together.” He’s now a few months into the Restoration and Transformation Program, which has helped him rebuild
in body, mind and spirit.
Thanks to you, Danny has also reconnected with his faith. “It strengthens me. It exalts me. I try to pray seven times a day.” Nightly chapel also made a real impact: “My faith got stronger here,” he says.
Last Thanksgiving, Danny didn’t just receive a meal—he helped serve it. “It was all you can eat,” he remembers. “And I was part of the preparation. That meant a lot to me.” To the generous friends like you who helped make his journey possible, he says, “Your money is very well spent. Thank you very, very much.”