By Msgr. Noel C. Burtenshaw

He had a lot of needs. But right now he could boil it all down to a very simple list. He needed some clothes and a pair of shoes.

Jimmy was a young client in a halfway house for addicts. At the age of 18 he could tell a story that would curl your hair. He needed to get sober. He needed a mother who would care. He needed a good start on some career.

A lot of people wanted all these things for Jimmy. But right now all Jimmy really needed was some clothes. And, yes, a pair of shoes.

His long, lanky frame got into my car. He was shoeless. His shirt and jeans were misfits. Off we went to get him outfitted.

We headed to the one place that I knew would take care of those immediate needs – Second Hand Rose Clothing Store. It was out there on McLendon near Decatur. St. Vincent de Paul runs the store and they are pleased only when their stock is low. When that happens, they know they are serving the poor.

The young lady greeted Jimmy and I. I could see he felt important. He made his way through the good, clean, used wardrobe of men’s apparel. He liked what he saw. Carefully he picked out shirts and pants and shoes. He even found a black leather jacket. It was a good feeling and a good day.

Others came into the store while we made our choices. Young mothers with babies in their arms. Men who might have left their places of work. Some seemed to be there for the first time; others obviously were regular customers. All of them were confident they would find an answer to their needs here at St. Vincent de Paul’s Second Hand Rose. All had the same good feeling.

St. Vincent de Paul is in the business of giving good feelings and good days to the Jimmys of this world. Whether they are dealing with food or clothes or rent payments, they only ask for an opportunity to be of service. They certainly put gladness back into that young deprived face, as well I can testify.

But I brought my case to an even higher court. I went to see Lou Amman in Holy Spirit parish. I asked if more could be done for the halfway house clients, who came in from the streets, mostly to rest, some to get better.

“Sure,” said Amman. “We can give you all the clothes you need and you can give them out. Or you can send them out to one of our stores. We will be most happy to be of service.”

Lou was as good as his word. Suddenly, the men and women at this downtown haven had all they could use and when difficulties came up that the in-house closest could not handle, the stores, both called Second Hand Rose, one on McLendon and the other on Clairmont, served the need beautifully.

St. Vincent de Paul had come to the rescue once more.

The Society has a happy knack of rescuing people in need. Betti Knott, executive director of St. Vincent de Paul in Atlanta, is sought out constantly to help those who have nowhere to turn. “They come here to our office seeking food, thank God we can help. They need rent, money for power bills. We try to help. We respond generously because others are generous to us.”

Atlantans and North Georgians will have the opportunity to be generous again next Sunday. Each parish will sponsor a second collection for the work of the Society. Last year $61,000 was received. This year a large a larger amount is prayerfully expected. “We are hoping for $70,000,” said Betti Knott.

I have watched the stores bring a lot of simple comfort to the lives of men and women who feel they are the forgotten of our society. Without asking for any change in his life, the ladies of the stores gave a new appearance to Jimmy, who knew only violence and desperation in his young life.

Maybe the kindness he received will be a memory he will keep.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul could care less. Their work was to clothe the naked. They did their work well.