Dana Edwards: “In Their Shoes”
Dana Edwards at a volunteer shift.
When Dana Edwards got out of the Marine Corps and moved to Detroit last spring, he found himself wondering, “What do I want to do with the rest of my life?”
Over these last few months, he has realized that his life purpose is to help the homeless and the less fortunate. Now, he volunteers weekly at Corner Shower and Laundry, as well as another Detroit-based organization called Make Food Not Waste. When asked why spends his days serving, he said:
“I’m blessed beyond belief. I have a beautiful house, beautiful car, retirement, and all that. But you’re going to leave behind all those things when you die. Those are very meaningless in the greater scheme of life. It’s about what you’ve done for other people – it’s about your legacy.”
In his volunteer work, Dana has been moved by the many stories of people he meets. He talked about those who have become homeless because of disability, lay-offs, drug problems, inadequate wages, or family troubles. He said:
“I don’t lose sight of the fact that we could all be in their shoes. I am very grateful to be here. Whether I’m washing laundry or cleaning off showers, this is an opportunity for me to give back to the country that has given me so much. It is an opportunity to give back to the people who made Detroit what it is. Just because society’s given up on them, I won’t.”