By Jeff Massie- Program Manager

A nice stroll, an evening walk, or just a little exercise…this is NOT how John and Jeannie described their travels on foot. “I can honestly say we have walked over 10,000 miles” Jeannie said. John described his feet as being too swollen to put on shoes at one point. Both have painful memories of that time, but they also enjoyed the places they visited. Places like Montana, Wyoming, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Oklahoma, but Jeannie, being a huge Dallas Cowboys fan, wanted to settle in Texas.

It took 7 years for them to get to Midland from Florida, but they believe they found a place to call home. As you can imagine, this journey was not a straight one. It started in 2013 when the restaurant Jeannie was working at shut down and John was laid off from his job in the same day. John and Jeannie had to let their house go and move into their car. Eventually they lost the car too and were on foot. In a short period of time, they went from being employed with a house and a vehicle to being homeless with nothing. Neither of them ever thought they would be homeless but it happened to them and it can happen to anyone. During this seven-year period, they left Florida several times but would always end up back there. At least until they decided to move to Texas. They worked as Carnival ride operators, construction clean up, worked in the peanut fields of Georgia, other odd jobs, and they spent a lot of time walking. When asked how they did it, Jeannie said “Always put your faith in the Lord, that comes first.”

John and Jeannie walked from Florida and made it all the way to Dallas, TX in about 3 months. At this point, they were both done. Jeannie recalls arriving at a truck stop and breaking down in tears because they couldn’t walk anymore. They were headed to Midland because they heard there was work available, but it seemed they wouldn’t make it. John and Jeannie still put their faith in God and He provided when a local pastor noticed them. He ended up solving their problem with a bus ticket and a little money for food. They arrived by bus in December of 2020 but got stuck near the bus stop for a week because they didn’t know the local bus system yet. They finally got to town and began staying at the Salvation Army.

This is where I met them. They heard about the Glean Up Crew and joined us in the beginning of January. They were a great addition. Both of them always have a smile and a joke to make you laugh. It was during this time on the crew that I got to know them better and the hardships they have faced. Jeannie had lost a 2-year-old to a drunk driver and later lost an unborn baby when she was attacked in a shelter. John had a mental break down and attempted suicide because he had no hope. He said “I didn’t care whether I lived or died.” I could see the pain in their eyes but despite all that, they were trying to get back on their feet. John has more hope now. His dream is to have a stable job and a house to call home.

While on the Glean Up crew, we worked to get them there. We obtained birth certificates, glasses, transportation, and paid them a dignified wage that allowed them to move to a motel temporarily. John and Jeannie both found jobs, were loaned a car from a local Midland church, and are saving up for a deposit on their own place. With the help of our volunteers, donors and staff, they are being empowered to climb out of homelessness and get on their feet again. John and Jeannie have now graduated from the Glean Up program but they will always be a part of The Field’s Edge family.

Today is Permian Basin Gives, a regional day of giving in the spirit of West Texas generosity. Please visit the Permian Basin Gives website, scroll down and select The Field’s Edge to give and help us continue to provide personalized case management to our homeless neighbors.

John and Jeannie working on their case management with Program Manager Jeff Massie

I Would Walk 10,000 Miles