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“I’m So Grateful”

Michael has always considered himself a blue-collar worker.

“I’ve always done physical types of work,” says Michael, who frequently worked as a handyman. “I’m not an office-type of worker. But I’m used to working, and working hard.”

Unfortunately, since badly breaking a toe a couple years ago, Michael has been unable to do much work. Between that and an old shoulder injury, chronic pain has kept him from doing the types of work he likes.

He’s also had on-again, off-again battles with drinking, which brought him to MorningStar once before in 2009, where he was able to sober up.

More recently, Michael’s financial woes resulted in losing his apartment, and with nowhere to turn, Michael wasn’t sure what to do next.

But he remembered how MorningStar had helped him more than a decade ago, so he decided to give it another try. Here, Michael’s health is slowly improving. Perhaps most importantly, he’s now getting disability income, and he’s finally able to look ahead.

In the meantime, he does odd jobs around the Mission as much as his health will allow. He can’t stand for long, and he can’t use one of his arms due to shoulder pain. “But I help serve meals from our kitchen,” he says.

“Being unable to work has driven me crazy,” says Michael, 60. “At least I’ve got something to do at MorningStar. And I’m looking forward to getting my own place again.”

He’s on the right track. “I’m so grateful,” he says, “for how MorningStar has helped me.”

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