When I met Street Sense vendor Charles Woods, he was quick to apologize for his hoarse voice. Charles had been watching the Cowboys-Redskins game the night before, and he’d sacrificed his voice cheering for the home team.
Having played football in high school, Charles now considers himself an avid fan of the sport and particularly of the Redskins. Charles’ wife, Yvette, also enjoys watching football, but her team is the Cowboys.
This might have made for a rowdy evening in front of the TV Sunday night if not for the fact that Charles and Yvette were unable to watch the game together. Since 2008, they have been staying in two different shelters each night.
Charles met his wife in Maryland six or seven years ago. After Charles lost his job in home improvement, they decided to move to Pennsylvania. When they returned to Washington, D.C., a couple of years ago, the couple was unable to find affordable housing and have been in the shelters ever since.
Charles, who started selling Street Sense in 2008, can be found selling papers near Union Station. When asked if he had a message for his readers, he expressed gratitude for their support. “I have many loyal customers over there at Union Station,” he said. One customer even brought him a bicycle.
Charles hopes to have a job within five years with sufficient income to support him and his wife. In the meantime, he finds strength in his passion for football and in his loving wife. He also looks to the Lord for support and goes to church every Sunday. Below is a piece written by Charles talking about his faith.
Charles Woods does not write poetry often, but when he does he uses whatever he can to jot his thoughts down. He submitted this poem on mint-green, wrinkled paper torn from a notebook. He says the inspiration was a recent tough time in his life.
Repent & Be Saved
Heaven is a Real place.
And Hell is a Real place.
God told me so Himself.
Eternity is longer than all our lives put
together,
think of your life as one grain of sand and
eternity is the beach.
Hell is much worse than this jail or any
lock-up known to humans.
I want to spend eternity in Heaven.
I know you do, too.
So do the Right thing everyday.
And hopefully, I’ll see you in Heaven, too.
