Tom was there for the beginning of Carry It Forward, and shaped the way we do outreach and advocacy services in the field. Tom’s experiences also highlight many of the ways people fall through the cracks of our medical, legal, and social service systems.

Tom was a complex guy. On the surface he was quick with a smile, story or good dirty joke. He shared his resources freely. A former White Bird medic, he took pride in serving the community by sweeping the street, volunteering, and caring for other vulnerable people. Tom was the kind of guy you wanted in the zombie apocalypse because he could turn broken electronics into useful working machines like a phone charger or a small generator that could power a flashlight. Always the handy man, he wore his tools on strings around his neck so he wouldn’t lose them in his pants pockets that were held up with suspenders.

Tom told me once that he “had no legacy.” I am here to say that Tom’s life and death inform everything we do. There are still many “Tom’s” on the street facing the same barriers. And although everyone’s story is unique, the outcomes are the same if we don’t do something different.

Thank you community for supporting the work we do.
It takes a village to raise a village. We can't do it without you.