From Neil’s write-up about his ex-neighbor Donald on EV Grieve, a site dedicated to the ever-changing/gentrified East Village.

Neil has been Donald’s only friend in the world ever since his sister, Anne, passed two years ago. When Donald—who is severely mentally handicapped— was evicted in October we didn’t know where he would end up. The landlords had wanted him out for quite some time as he was paying something like $11 to rent a place that would now command $2K. He was also using it to store trash, bottles, and cans. It was a problem. Still, he’d been there for thirty-odd years and it was his spot. Now it isn’t.

He’s currently up in the Bronx in a nursing home and Neil and I went to visit him on Saturday. We brought a bunch of clothes (all his stuff was thrown in storage after he was evicted) but what he really wants is a radio and to have a new roommate who doesn’t scream. The place seems nice, actually, and the staff is treating him kindly. He still wants out. Bad. We have no idea where he can go.

I spoke with his social worker yesterday and she says he’ll be there for at least a month while they evaluate him and figure out where to place him permanently. (Most likely an assisted living place). He really wants to get an apartment in Brooklyn and swears he has money in the Citibank on 5th street to pay for it.

When I was looking through my closet for stuff that might fit Donald (I knew ex-boyfriends would be good for something some day) I also gathered a bunch of girlie clothes I don’t want anymore and filled a few trash bags to take to the Goodwill. But since Neil got a Zip Car to go up to the Bronx I decided to load all the bags in the trunk and see if the nursing home needed clothes for other people. It did. When I left, the receptionist was in the process of sorting through the clothes and labeling each piece to give to different patients. (It’s going to be funny going back next week and seeing my clothes everywhere).

Anyway, Neil is truly a saint for being there for Donald. I am merely along to provide moral support to him and to do what I can—which admittedly isn’t much. A lot of bad stuff is going on in the world right now, with Haiti, obviously, being at the top of everyone’s list of where to give. But if you have some old clothes lying around that you know you’re never going to wear again, consider donating them to a nursing home/rehab center in your neighborhood. Those people are truly forgotten and they appreciate everything they get.