Homeless count This morning I went out before sunrise to help count the homeless living in 29 Palms. What an eye-opening four hours! I was on a team with four men (I love going out with men!) The driver was Jim Thornburg, one of our former sheriff Deputies and now our city's Code enforcement Officer. We rode in his BFT (The first thing I learned is that a BFT is a Big F..ing Truck). Jim knew where all the homeless camp out, knew them by name, knew their stories and has a great rapport with them. Along with Jim were four of us representing 29 Palms Rotary - Gary Daigneault, owner and operator of the Morongo Basin's Main radio station, who has lived here over 30 years; Aaron Kyle, a third generation local who has lived here over 40 years; Danny Mintz one of our City Council members and a second generation '29-er with over 50 years of local living; and me, a second generation local, with over 70 years of living here. Among all of us in the truck, we shared stories all morning of people and places of the past in this town. We carried with us hot and freshly made egg muffins from Jack-in-the-Box; backpacks filled with Sox, underwear, hats etc; bags with personal toiletries; and sleeping bags. One abandoned house had 7 People living in it! Our team counted and surveyed 15 people. The surveys were recorded on an App on our cell phone. This information will be used to receive County, State, and Federal funding and services. I sure know more about this town than I did when I woke up this morning!
