I became a notary, but I’m not happy about it
I met Mr. V on a Saturday. He was thin as a rail with several teeth missing. As we shook hands he clutched his right arm in pain. He had suffered a diabetic stroke the week before. I pegged him for seventy-something, but as we got talking I learned he was only 55. The stroke was a result of rationing his insulin medication. At some point he lost his Medicaid coverage and now he was working to get it reinstated. That’s what brought us together.
Twice a month, I volunteer at Foundry UMC’s ID Ministry. There, I meet one-on-one with DC residents who need assistance replacing lost or stolen vital records: birth certificates, social security cards, and photo IDs. My fellow volunteers and I offer guidance to navigate the bureaucratic steps and Foundry covers the fees for obtaining the documents…
