A
high school in Virginia has an automotive technology program where the students
apply engineering, physics, and problem-solving to repair cars. They learn about electrical systems,
combustion, efficiency, and safety. People donate cars to the school. While the
students perform the work, the teachers guide. When the automobiles have been
repaired, the keys are given to a single mother so she can have a reliable car.
The students are learning important skills and then given the opportunity to
express compassion.
That Thursday
morning there were fifteen nice winter coats hanging on the fence at the
elementary school, but no note or instructions. Principal Morris called the
police to document the coats, in case they had been stolen. Kayla Martinez,
8-years-old, saw a purple coat on the fence that was her size. She explained to
Mrs. Alvarez, her PE teacher, that her mother didn’t have enough money to buy
her a coat so she would wear three hoodies to try to stay warm. Kayla then
asked permission to take the coat. By lunchtime, all of the coats had been
claimed. The next Thursday there were twenty coats on the fence outside of the
community center in their neighborhood. Another Thursday there were thirty
coats at the downtown shelter. Then blankets and boots began appearing. No one
knew who was supplying the items. They just called the mystery person “The
Fence Angel.” In March, Earl Hutchins, 71, died. When they cleaned out his
apartment they found hundreds of receipts from thrift stores. He spent his
disability checks to purchase the coats. His nephew found a journal entry,
“Lost my son to exposure in 2004. He was homeless, prideful, wouldn’t take
handouts. Froze to death behind a dumpster wearing a T-shirt. If I put coats on
a fence, nobody has to ask. Nobody has to admit they need help. They just take
it. Dignity intact.” Kayla never got to thank Mr. Hutchins. She is sixteen now.
In November, she took her babysitting money to Goodwill and bought six coats.
She then hung them on the same fence, by the elementary school. When her
friends saw what Kayla did, they also bought coats, as did their parents. The
high school had a coat drive for what is now known as “Earl’s Fence.” This past
Thursday, there were 200+ coats, scarves, and gloves to be shared. There are also
designated “Earl’s Fences” in Detroit, Manchester, and Vancouver.
Whether working as a group or individually, in
the open or behind the scenes, may we do our part to share with others.
Therefore, as
God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Colossians 3:12
