A Kitten, a Veteran, and the Newby-verse
One of my favorite Newby-verse moments happened on a scorching summer day in 2019. Newby-ginnings was BUSY—standing room only in the lobby, a line of vehicles waiting to drop off donations in the back, and volunteers working tirelessly to keep up. We had reached full capacity, and for safety reasons, we had to put up a sign letting donors know we couldn’t accept anything else that day.
At the front desk, I was speaking with an SSVF Case Manager while a newly enrolled Veteran filled out his paperwork. The Case Manager turned to me and asked, “Do you have any cat stuff? He just moved into an apartment after being homeless and got a new kitten. He needs everything for it.”
I told her about our pet supply area, hoping we had something that could help. And then—right at that moment—the front door burst open.
A woman walked in, looking a little frazzled. “Wow! You guys are really slammed back there! They put up a sign saying you couldn’t take my donation.”
I apologized and asked if she could return the next day. She smiled and said, “Of course! It’s just one box. I recently lost my cat, and these are all of her things.”
The Case Manager and I looked at each other in complete shock. Without hesitation, we carried the box straight to the Veteran’s car. It had everything he needed for his new kitten.
The Newby-verse had stepped in once again—making sure that, even in the busiest of moments, the right things happen at the right time.