writer: kyra carpenter
photographer: john abernathy
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Mary Jo washes the feet of a man at Sharing and Caring Hands. |
| Few have started down Mary Jo Copeland’s path of
caring for the poor, and even fewer have endured for
over 22 years. Mary Jo has been compared to Mother
Teresa, called a saint and a firecracker, but a Sharing
and Caring Hands volunteer describes her best as a
“thick-skinned angel.” |
| Mary Jo started Sharing and Caring Hands with a
shoestring budget and a clear vision to help the urban
poor. In 1985 she opened a little storefront where the
poor and homeless could wash up and receive some
nourishment. Her husband Dick Copeland recalls,
“I was always the worrier asking, ‘Where is the money
going to come from?’ [Mary Jo’s] response was, ‘Don’t
worry, we’ll work hard and pray hard.’ She amazes me
all the time.” Sharing and Caring Hands has undergone
many changes, but the constant factor has been Mary
Jo’s determination to help those who are homeless, poor,
abused or forgotten. |
A
dedicated Catholic, Mary Jo starts her day before sunrise. |
Mary Jo greets the people filing into Sharing and Caring Hands. |
When the doors to Sharing and Caring Hands open
in the morning, Mary Jo greets the crowd as they pass
her on both sides. Some people go straight for a free
breakfast, and others go downstairs to the health clinic
or the free store where they can get shoes, a warm coat
or a bag of food. Yet, the majority gets into a line on
the far left-hand side of the lunchroom to speak with
Mary Jo.
Sharing and Caring hands relies solely on donations,
linking the caring community with people in need.
Every day Mary Jo fills her pockets with donated bus
tokens and grocery store gift cards for those who need
them. She also keeps plenty of dollar bills on-hand to
give to any child that might come her way. “People
don’t really realize how hard it is to be poor. … Rents
are high [and] bills are high,” Mary Jo explains.
“People just have a really hard time, and I think the
world needs to hear that.”
Mary Jo listens to every request one by one. The
requests vary from a bus ticket or school supplies, to
needing assistance filling out medical paperwork or
help paying a bill.
“I asked for winter jackets for my two girls,” Maria
says. Her daughter, Alejandra sits patiently sucking on
a red lollipop that was given to her by Mary Jo. After
a few minutes, a volunteer brings two small winter
jackets to Maria, then he reaches into his pocket and
hands her a bus pass.
"They help you get on your feet while you still have
a chance to get a job and an apartment." |
Mary Jo gives attention to every individual that asks for
assistance.
After listening Maria's request, Mary Jo gives Alejandra a
sucker to calm her down. |
Kenneth is thankful for a hot meal on a cold Minnesota afternoon. |
Mark enjoys an occasional cup of coffee at Sharing and Caring Hands. |
| In the lunchroom, Kenneth, a soft-spoken,
79 year old World War II veteran, sits
down alone with a plate of food. “I’m just
down on my luck these days,” he says. He
used to own a parking lot in downtown
Minneapolis, but the city tore it down to
build on the land. “I like it here. It’s on
the bus line, so I can get to the veteran’s
hospital easily from here.” |
Mark was homeless for six years, but
now has a place to live. He still comes to
Sharing and Caring Hands once in a while
for assistance; Mary Jo recently helped him
pay off a medical bill. He says he’d like to
see more places like this, “They help you
get on your feet while you still have
a chance to get a job and an apartment.” |
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