Hello to my Street Sense supporters, especially those from Farragut West and Farragut North. This is 35-year old vendor #510 Donald Brown reporting. I am a class of 2000 graduate from NorthWestern High School in Adelphi, Md. I began working in downtown D.C. in 1999, first for nine month at a hot dog stand at 1301 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, then for six months at a CVS pharmacy. Then I became a biker, delivering goods. That job paid good!
Unfortunately, I’m a gambler. (Maybe that’s why I like going to Atlantic City.) Like most, I lost a majority of the time. My next job was at the Cleveland Park Jimmy John’s. I worked there for a year doing just about everything: delivering orders, cashiering, washing dishes and cleaning the place. Then I was fired on my birthday, Aug. 15, 2014. (How’s THAT for a present?) So, I went back to being a biker downtown. After losing that job, I came a Street Sense vendor in October 2014.
I was inspired to do that when I was hanging out at Farragut North with my friend Marty Walker. A woman said how much she liked the paper. So I thought I’d try selling it. Now the paper humbles me no matter how depressed or angry I get. And Street Sense customers make me feel special.
I’m also becoming involved with Catholic Charities. It is going to help me obtain housing and getting some needed medical treatment. That’s my main focus at this time.
