Vendor Writing

Volunteer Spotlight: Michael Reilly

BY NORMA B., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

Recently I was able to spend some quality time with Michael Reilly for his Volunteer Spotlight!

This was no easy feat. He’s a bit of a combination of The Flash and a magician.

He can be difficult to track down, because he’s here one minute and gone the next. A now you see him, now you don’t kind of guy.

Michael hails from Brooklyn, New York.

He first came to Tennessee from Los Angeles, Calif., while working as a freelance copywriter, so you can be certain this story will be properly edited and not just by The Contributor’s top-notch editorial team.

After running out of gas in Nashville, he decided to take some time to check things out. It seemed like a nice town, a good place to stay, so he did!

He became familiar with The Contributor when he passed by vendor Gary C. at the intersection of Harding and Trousdale nearly every day on his way to work for about two years.

Though Gary presented roughly, Michael (who was responsible for hiring numerous people for various jobs within the Titans stadium at the time), realized that he had some mental health challenges, and he wasn’t that different from the individuals he was hiring.

In short, he looked past the outward appearance and saw his humanity.

The world would be a much better place if EVERYONE would take the time to do that! As a result, he eventually became a regular customer of the paper.

Michael retired in 2012, and came down to The Contributor office the next day to volunteer! We are SO glad he did! (While doing this story, I came to realize he is actually only semi-retired. He currently works for a hospitality company in large event logistics planning food processes to accommodate thousands.)

Concerning the changes/growth in the paper in his time here, he mentioned the following: 1) The Contributor has gone from a stand alone paper to become a partner in the Continuum of Care and 2) Vendors now have access to Social Services with staff members hired for that purpose.

He said what The Contributor community does that is different from other agencies offering assistance is that people in The Contributor 's program are treated as individuals with each one’s specific needs in mind — not merely as impersonal case numbers.

He illustrated it well by saying, "it’s like doing a favor for a friend," and gave the compelling example of helping a friend move a sofa up two flights of stairs.

You might say he not only talks the talk but walks the walk, and he is supremely confident that if everyone works together the resources are there to provide for the needs of the people with regard to food, housing etc. and he talks about it with anyone who’ll listen.

His other interests include gardening and home cooking, but it turns out he’s not the only one with a unique skill set in the family.

His wife of many years, Amy, from Florence, Ala., is an artist in her own right with a studio Paint + Canvas in Nashville. If you’re into art or you want to learn more about it, you should check it out! It looks pretty cool and there appears to be something for everyone!

A Yo-Yo

BY JAMES "SHORTY" R., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

A Yo-Yo is like the Planet Earth. It's round, not flat. Have you ever seen a square Yo Yo? I haven’t, but they have something in common, they’re both round and unique in there own special way. Just like people they’re very special in their own way. They come from everywhere on this special place we call the Earth. Like a Yo-Yo there isn’t two the same. Like people, a yo yo is different in color and things it can do. Everyone is different. We come from different ways of life. Always keep this in mind. A Yo-Yo is like a ball it must go down and up. Lets make the best of it. It’s not going to be a bed of roses.