Phil

Phil was born and raised in Springville, Utah. He attended several different high schools before dropping out and setting off on his own. He would later return to school to finish his high school education as an adult, though his work opportunities were limited by his partial blindness and physical weakness from dozens of surgeries. Although he was raised as a member of the LDS church, he attended and studied various different religions in his life. From these various religions he learned the importance of having a relationship with God and striving to be a good person.

Although he has lived most of his life on the streets, he was married for 4 years during which he had two sons. His sons are now 8 and 9 years old and live with his brother in Wyoming. He has now been divorced for several years, but recently became engaged with a woman from Fayette, Utah. He plans on marrying her as soon as he can raise the money for a deposit on an apartment, but in the meantime he video chats with her every night and accompanies her whenever she is in town for doctor visits. He doesn't like the idea of leaving the streets, but his fiancee insists that they do so if they are going to get married.

Phil has no more earthly possessions than what can fit in a grocery cart, and what he wears on his back. Most of these belongings consist of warm clothing and blankets for the cold winter nights when he tries to find an empty bathroom, but often has to spend the night out in the cold. Another thing that keeps him warm is his little brown Chihuahua named Princess Bandit who he carries around zipped up in his jacket. He complains that he used to have more possessions, but that one day while he was away from his tent full of belongings, the police (or "five Oh" as he called them) came and removed most of it. He was able to recover very little of it, and among the things that were lost was his only picture of him and his sons. He also spoke much about his previous dog, a wolf-hound named Wolfie. Since Phil had been inseparable from this large intimidating dog, who always protected him fiercely, he had earned himself a certain fame on the streets and was known as The Wolf Man.

During the long days and nights on the street, Phil enjoys reading history. He regaled me with stories of the great indian chief Sitting Bull, and of the Battle of the Little Bighorn. He also enjoyed postulating about the Free Masons and how they influenced America's founding. He really came alive with spirit as he shared his various stories. In the end, I was sorry to leave him to spend the chilly night in the park, but he didn't seem to mind as long as he had his dog and his blankets and his freedom.

This kit delivery was made possible by a donation from: Dan Moyes, Schertz, Texas