A Worthwhile Drive

  February 5, 2016 From our CEO, Bill Powers:  Ryan is a talker. Maybe my driving is making him nervous. I am driving one of our large vans, two staff members and six student Ambassadors, and trying hard to follow the Bridges yellow box truck. We are on route to feed homeless men, women, and children in New York City. The weather is miserable – cold, dark, and rainy. The Bridges driver seems to change lanes without regard to traffic. Back to Ryan. Ryan starts by talking about general stuff but soon gets into his life story. I am focused on the road. Ryan is focused on his story. Like most of our guys here at Bonnie Brae Ryan’s life story is not a happy story. There are many brothers and sisters, may moves, many changes of school, and an absent dad. Mom is doing the best that she can but there are big potholes in her life. Just like there are big potholes in the road I am driving. I am driving, trying to keep us on the road, and now also being sympathetic to Ryan’s story. Just as we reach our first stop Ryan shares, without any encouragement on my part, that he is really happy at Bonnie Brae. He believes that he is finally safe to express himself and that staff really care about him. It makes the drive all the more worthwhile.