A volunteer at Pinellas Hope’s Tent City knows firsthand what it’s like to be on the streets. Ray Gazave remembered a day 10 years ago in Yuma, Arizona.
“I was homeless, sleeping between a wall and some trees,” Ray said. “I hadn’t bathed in a month. Extremely alcoholic. I had a full bottle of booze and I found myself so sick that I could no longer drink.”
Ray was also addicted to hard drugs and plagued with thoughts of suicide, he finally realized he had reached rock bottom. On that day, Ray says he made a promise to keep going.
Part of keeping that promise included going anywhere. His faith took him across the country to Pinellas County, where he has worked to help the homeless find their way.
Ray even owns his own business now and spends most weekends and nights at Tent City and other homeless locations. He also donates money to the cause. Ray has a message for those who are trying to get back on their feet:
“It doesn’t have to be a place where you ended up and life is miserable and this is where I ended up because all I’ve been through,” Ray said. “This can be the starting point. This can be just a new lease on life, and these people are here to help you.”