A message from Anawim’s Senior Resident

July 27, 2014 | Written by Terry Edison-Brown

Pepper the Cat reporting in! I have a special mission and I need your help!

I’m the senior resident around here at Anawim. I climbed through windows 19 years ago, and I’ve been here ever since. Don’t say I’m getting old, I prefer ‘experienced.”

I was homeless once, so I have a great affinity for the human residents at Anawim. Everyone has benefited from the house’s programs and services, but I particularly like the new residents.

It’s a big step to move into a house with 6 other guys, to learn how to do the chores and prepare the meals for our guests. But the biggest step is just trying to fit in, to be a part of things and to learn how to relate to the other guys.

No matter what our histories are or how old we are, everyone at Anawim has one thing in common; we all came to a point in our lives where we chose a common solution: living at Anawim House in service to each other and to our community of people in need.

Everyone at Anawim is so busy. Some of our guys do extra work around the house, some volunteer in the community. Others are involved in recreational activities, or are busy pursuing an education, attending recovery meetings or nurturing their spiritual side at the church of their choice.

I love sunny spots

I help out by looking cute, napping in sunny spots, and purring in laps.

My favorite thing about Anawim is how the new guys realize that everyone is a unique individual, with their own passions and interests. After living with hundreds of different residents and welcoming over 150,000 drop-in guests you’d think I, at least, should know it all. But guess what…

They appointed a new guy to take over my feeding duties and he won’t allow me to eat until I’ve sat, and shaken paws with him. (He must be a former dog-owner.)

At first I was pretty choked, but then I realized that if all the staff and residents can hold hands and pray before a meal, I can improve my manners a bit too. So now I do the “sit thing” and I do the “paw thing”, and we’re good to go… it’s all about making adjustments and learning from the others.

And I’ve only been here 19 years!

The life of a street cat was not easy for me. I came to Anawim because it is a house for healing, family, and helping the community – but sometimes they need help too. That’s my mission, to help Anawim so they can better help the community.

• Cat Supplies – I always need donations of cat food, kitty litter, and cat toys to keep me entertained and happy. A happy kitty, means I can spend my time helping others.
• Food – The humans at Anawim help so many people by providing food and resources to people struggling with homelessness and hunger. They always need donations of food and household goods – enough for approximately 30 people a day.
• Socks – Humans have weird feet. That’s why they cover them in fur – they call these socks. Even though the weather is nice right now, we know that wet sock season is quickly approaching. Anawim is collecting donations of new socks for the community.

Anawim – Empowered People (and a Cat) Embracing Life

The Anawim Companion Society

Special Message by Pepper the Cat.

Anawim Senior Resident