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Shortly after the Rural Poverty Dream Center opened its
doors to relieve those suffering in abstract poverty
throughout the region, Michael Hartwell, Director, noticed a
dirty, elderly man watching from across the street. As
Hartwell was drawn to this man, the man quickly disappeared
from sight. For several days, Hartwell would see the man
standing outside RPDC but would never come in to see what was
happening. As Hartwell would soon discover, this man known in
the community as “Chainsaw”, was a self-imposed hermit. He
was a well-educated man but at some point in his life gave up
on society and decided to live a solitary life with little or
no contact from others. He lived in a small tent made from
tin, cardboard and cloth and pitched it anywhere he could. He
ate what he could forage from trashcans and dumpsters, mostly
at night to avoid people. His clothes were little more than
rags.
Chainsaw had no access to
running water, which meant his personal hygiene was none
existent. The coal dust that hangs in the air throughout the
region eventually became imbedded into his skin making him
appear ghostly. To most everyone, Chainsaw was despicable, his
body odor was offensive, his appearance was undesirable and he
did not like to be around people.
However, to Mike Hartwell, Chainsaw was a man that
needed a friend. Gradually, Hartwell was able to approach
Chainsaw and offered him food. Chainsaw took the food but
would not enter ADC or eat it there. He refused housing. He
refused rest room facilities. He refused everything offered
him but Hartwell would not give up.
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