Day of Dignity provides the homeless with food, medical screenings.
David H. got to Sonny Lawson Park in Denver right at 7:30 a.m. Saturday because he knew it was a big day.
Homeless since his wife died of cancer in 2001, David has roamed around since then, staying at various shelters throughout California and Colorado.
But on Saturday, David, who wouldn’t give his last name, knew exactly where he wanted to be.
For a full day, the downtown park was transformed into a Day of Dignity, an event for more than 500 homeless and the working poor to access free food, music, medical screenings, clothing and other essential items.
The annual campaign is organized in cities across the country by Islamic Relief USA, a Virginiabased nonprofit humanitarian organization. Started in 2002, the Day of Dignity is now hosted annually in 16 cities, helping more than 20,000 people from Buffalo, N.Y., to Denver.
“Poverty has existed for a long time, and it still exists despite what you hear about the economy booming,” said Syed M. Hassan, spokesperson for Islamic Relief USA. “We established this as a way to serve as a onestop shop for people’s basic needs.”
Denver’s Day of Dignity was put on by Muslim Family Services of Colorado, a nonprofit organization that provides direct services for those with emergency needs.
Fifteen community partners pitched in, including the ACLU, Volunteers of America and Denver Homeless Out Loud. The park was filled with tables and tents offering free cholesterol and blood pressure screenings, dental exams, hygiene kits and all types of clothing. People waited for haircuts, enjoyed hot showers and gorged on unlimited food.
“We call it the Day of Dignity because this is a very important element of society,” said Dr. Carroll Watkins Ali, executive director of Muslim Family Services. “Just to be able to give them a little something that says ‘Other folks care about you.’ You can walk out of here and feel good.”
Folks such as David H., 75, took full ad
vantage. Carrying a new black backpack and winter coat, David loaded up his plate with rice, burritos and chocolate chip cookies. This was his third free meal of the day, and he even had a bag to save extra food for later.
“I’m real full,” he said with a wide grin. “I eat a lot — like a horse!”
Clad in a thin buttondown shirt and light blue jeans, David took off his black flat brim hat and ran his hand slowly through his short saltandpepper hair, freshly cut by one of the volunteers.
“It’s rough being homeless,” he said. “But I got a beautiful jacket, a shower, some food — yeah, it was a great day.”
Dozens of people brought their shopping carts full of belongings to Lawson Park, talking among themselves or relaxing on the grass, burritos in hand.
It’s a rare respite for many of them, forced to move around by the urban camping ban, a 2012 ordinance that prohibits sleep ing outside and utilizing sleeping bags or tents.
Denver native Jesse Parris has experienced the camping ban firsthand. He became homeless after college and said he was arrested for violating the ordinance.
Parris decided to take matters into his own hands this year, electing to run for Denver City Council atlarge in the upcoming election. His campaign slogan: “Justice for the Poor.”
Parris came to the park Saturday to gather signatures to overturn the ban. Depending on the new city council and mayor, he believes they “have a shot” at changing the law.
“Everyone deserves the right to survive, and you shouldn’t be criminalized just for doing so,” he said. “The ban has pushed people to the point of being ticketed, arrested and harassed just for surviving on the streets of Denver.”
On a normal Saturday, the homeless of Denver have to move around all day to get their needs met.
“But on this day,” Watkins Ali said, “they can be here in one spot.”