By: Kyle Smith, Marketing Intern
Recently an elderly woman came into Reconciliation Services in a near panic – she was out of her diabetes medication and couldn’t find help. “You go into survival mode without these issues covered,” said Terrance Freeman, MSW, who recently celebrated his 5 year anniversary as a case manager at RS. “We wrote her a voucher for a month's supply of medication. It’s an emotionally stressful time and now she’ll be better able to make it through.”
“This pandemic has changed the whole dynamic of social work,” said Mr. Freeman, who at the age of 70 has been working half time from home and half time from the office. “Our clients are carrying around more stress. Even wearing a face mask and having to sanitize everything regularly changes things.”
Mr. Terrance Freeman, MSW, Case Manager at RS
Mr. Freeman’s caseload includes helping neighbors pay for their medical costs through KC Medicine Cabinet, covering mounting water bills, and making sure people get their birth certificate, photo ID, or work permit so that they can be productive. “We’re busier than a long tail cat in a room full of rocking chairs,” he said with a laugh. “It’s one thing after the next.”
COVID-19 has forced everyone to change the way they operate. No where is that more evident than in Thelma’s Kitchen which converted to just carryout in late March and gave away 5,729 free meals to the community in April. Mr. Freeman said he can see firsthand the effect this change has had on his clients. “Thelma’s went from a place where anyone could come fellowship, to a place where all you’re doing now is picking up a free meal.”
Social distancing has made it more difficult to connect with others and Mr. Freeman said his heart goes out to those who are experiencing homelessness during this time. He has seen an uptick in signs that people’s situations are becoming more dire, “When I go out to the corner of 31st and Troost around lunchtime, I see our people who are apparently homeless sitting on the bus stop, crouching in doorways – they’re taking the lunch they’ve been given and eating outside,” he said. “They’re not going to a home.”
Mr. Freeman knows all too well the difficulties of being homeless. Before he sobered up and turned his life over to Christ almost 21 years ago, Mr. Freeman said he lived on the streets in Kansas City for years after the death of his mother caused him to relapse into drug addiction. He was 49 years old at the time and his incredible life journey had already taken him from the highs of shining Miles Davis’ shoes at a jazz club in Harlem, to sitting in a prison cell for five years on an assault charge.
Mr. Freeman’s full life story illustrates the mission and vision of Reconciliation Services.
“It was October 5th, 1999. I was laying down at the bus stop outside UMB Bank on 18th and Grand,” shares Mr. Freeman in his full life story that you can read here. “I pulled a cardboard box over my head and prayed, ‘God, I need help.”’
Help came that day in the form of a drug dealer who reached out his hand to help and told him where to go for detox. When representatives from Alcoholics Anonymous presented at the detox program and explained how the grieving process can lead to relapses, Mr. Freeman said a light came on, “I learned about the attitudes and mindset of an addict and suddenly everything in my life made sense.”
Soon after, a therapist helped him identify his underlying mental health issues and prescribed medication to cope. With a roof over his head and new found stability, Mr. Freeman was able to go back to school. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Parkville University and graduated in 2014 from UMKC with his Masters in Social Work.
Even after getting his Masters, Mr. Freeman was unable to find a job in social work. He said he got behind on utilities and rent and reached out to Reconciliation Services for help in April 2015. The team helped him out, heard his story, and offered him a temporary job managing the phones.
The relationship grew from there to a full time job, and Mr. Freeman said he is very grateful. “It was a godsend that I called and asked Reconciliation Services for help that day.”
Mr. Freeman will celebrate 21 years of sobriety this year. “Every time I see a client that is homeless, I see myself,” he said.
For more than 5 years, Mr. Freeman has been giving back in this way as a social worker at RS and self-proclaimed servant of God. His hard-earned empathy is evident each time he walks in solidarity with his clients to reveal their strength. “I show my clients the same kindness and love that God shows me everyday,” he said. “I serve others with respect and dignity because I believe that’s what God would have me do.”
Mr. Freeman has read his Bible every day for more than 20 years and he said his deep faith keeps him grounded. “I don’t fear COVID-19,” he said. He recently tested negative for the coronavirus. “I follow the precautions and go by the health guidelines, and I also have faith in God.”’
“There is evidence all around us that just like God used all of my personal trials and tribulations for good, He is doing the same here,” proclaims Mr. Freeman. “While we are surrounded by suffering, COVID-19 is also revealing the strength of our community to take care of one another – from the free meals at Thelma’s Kitchen to each little act of kindness happening out of the public eye.”
Every morning Mr. Freeman counts his blessings and thanks God for another day that he can bring honor and glory to God through his work at Reconciliation Services. “I’m still here because there’s hope here. There’s a great deal of love and hope at Reconciliation Services.”
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Reconciliation Services remains open during this COVID 19 crisis, offering essential services like: case management, housing and utilities assistance, ID and document assistance, medical supplies, trauma and depression therapy, and free to-go lunches through Thelma’s Kitchen. Please consider supporting these vital services and donate today.