A New Start for Baltimore Dana Young commits his life to improving the community and serving others “We need to get over this delusion that everybody eats.” - Dana Young facilities manager and resource coordinator Family Recovery Program An elderly woman entered human services in Baltimore one day,
The woman explained that she was in poverty and unable to afford a meal. For a while now, she was forced to eat the cat food she purchased for her pets. “I had to step away from my desk for a moment,” says Young, currently the facilities manager and resource coordinator at Family Recovery Program. “That one really floored me.”
wheeling inside a grocery cart full of cat food. She asked if they had any extra groceries that she could take home. Dana Young told her that unfortunately they didn’t have a food pantry.
Off the map The encounter opened his eyes to larger problems in the community. “We need to get over this delusion that everybody eats, everybody has a place to live, and nobody does drugs,” Young says. After meeting the woman, he decided to work with his organization to open a food pantry in the area.
Yet the problem isn’t always a lack of government resources. Young believes that access isn’t as much of an issue as personal initiative. His clients are often more aware of the resources they have available than even he is. Individuals using drugs, however, are living a lifestyle that keeps them off the map.
It’s in Young’s nature to help others. He’s spent a majority of his life working in various public service roles, from food support to community outreach. The experiences have taught him to manage his emotions, having faced some tough interactions. Overall, he’s realized the importance of public programs that help citizens meet basic human needs.
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