The Labor Pool: People helping People Work
By Ernest Marshall
To Whom it May Concern:
My name is Ernest Marshall and I have been with the Labor Pool from the day it started, April 1, 1992. But we didn’t officially open until June 22nd. There are a lot of reasons that helping the Labor Pool stay open are important to me: When we first opened up, the shape that most of our lives were in was pretty bad, but since then I have had an opportunity to see people working with me and around me make a tremendous change in the course of their lives. Along with them, it inspired me and gave me strength to make a better look at my own life and to turn to my higher Power, whom I choose to call GOD, “The Captain”. I want to let him Guide me to a place where I have respect, dignity, and pride once again.
With this, he has blessed me in seeing other people change by helping them find work. It but a smile on my face and I don’t believe there are words to explain how it made me feel, because these were people that were in the same situation I was. Now we have a light of hope that it won’t be long before we will be able to stand on our feet once again as men and women.
It feels awfully good to be able to see your life come back into order once again with a little hard work and someone believing in you.
All we are asking for is a hand up, not a hand out. I believe that this(the Labor Pool) is the first thing I have seen that everyone in this city can be involved in on one end or another. An employer or an employee- it’s a melting pot for those who want to do something about the shape their lives are in. by pulling together and faith I GOD, maybe here in Cleveland, Ohio can show the nation and other place away of bringing a stop to the direction our country is heading.
Thank you very much for your time and even considering the Labor Pool for some help.
They say there are three kinds of people in this world, “One who makes tings happen.” “One who watches things happen.” And one who say’s “What happened?”
With GOD, and your help, we might be able to be the first one to make something happen in people’s lives.
Copyright the Homeless Grapevine and NEOCH Issue 4 December 1993- January 1994