The purpose of this column is to put names, faces, and stories with those who are homeless in our 
community. It is our belief that it is much harder to go to bed at night if you somebody you know is in need of help.

Don

Don Sutton stood in our line for the first time in 1994 when he was 20 years old. He started volunteering for
OPERATION: Sack Lunch by helping to serve in the meal line downtown and then by taking a bus to Kirkland on Sundays to help prepare the Sunday Hot Meal. He was nicknamed "the boy" by other OSL Street Volunteers.

Don was born on September 3, 1974 in Honolulu, Hawaii, and moved to Seattle in 1976 with his mother.
He had an abusive childhood living with an alcoholic mother and stepfather. He was sexually abused at the age of twelve by a family member at which time he went to live in foster care. 

Don was sent back to his home at the age of fourteen. His home life was one of neglect and abuse and he lost
interest in anything and everything involved with school. At the age of sixteen Don was sexually assaulted by one of his sisters co-workers. He was so devastated that he tried to take his own life. At the age of eighteen Don
began wandering from state to state, and has been homeless for the past eight years. Don is now 26 years old.

Don is a graduate of Fare Start "Chefs" program. He has a love and passion for reading and everything to do with books. He is presently in line for a part-time entry level position with the Seattle Library. He is living in a SHARE shelter.

Don was an OSL volunteer off and on for six years. He helped cook the hot meals at St. John's, and helped as a server on Sundays and Mondays. He now is an OSL part-time staff member, working five hours a week at our St. Stephen's Episcopal site in Laurelhurst. He does all the heavy lifting for Lynn and his talent for baking is a great benefit to the program. He magically transforms government issue baking mix into delicious cakes and scones.
Don is very shy, but once you get to know him he is an 'ace' at one liners with a quick wit. He loves to tell jokes. He is also a master of the pots and pan cleanup brigade. He can whiz through stacks of crusty baked and blackened pots and pans making it seem like an effortless endeavor to blast clean, wash, and dry them, all in half the time it takes other staff members!! Patience, an observing eye, and a big heart has quickly made Don an important and integral part of the OSL staff team. We are pleased to him on board.