BIG RAPIDS, Mich. — We first brought you this story at the beginning of this year: A man and his dog suffering from homelessness in Big Rapids. Community members were surprised to learn that he’s also a talented, self-taught artist. Now, he, his dog and his paintings have a new home.
13 ON YOUR SIDE was first introduced to Shannon Galley after learning about an effort on Facebook to get him a new tent started by Big Rapids resident Elle Willette.
Back in January, she told us, “I posted it. I went to bed, woke up the next day and there were hundreds of people liking and commenting on it.”
Her GoFundMe went on to raise nearly $3,000 for Shannon, and Willette wasn’t the only one in Big Rapids looking to help.
“I actually met Shannon walking down my road which is 12 miles out of town and there’s not usually homeless people with their dog walking on my road,” said Teri Ouderkirk, another Big Rapids resident.
She quickly drove home to pack a picnic and offer them a bite to eat. She said after that, Galley kept popping up.
“After I met him, I left him and then I saw him at Walmart and then I saw him at Meijer and then I saw him on TV with another gal and I was like, ‘that’s my friend Shannon,’” said Ouderkirk.
She was concerned about his living situation because, “It was winter though and we were expecting storms and it’s like how can you live in a tent?”
Ouderkirk became determined to help Galley by taking him to doctors’ appointments, helping him apply for government assistance and even helping him get a copy of his birth certificate.
“I don’t know if the general public knows this, but I’ve learned so much that homeless people actually can get mail. They write the town that they want the mail delivered to and then they write ‘general delivery’ and the post office actually holds that mail for 30 days,” said Ouderkirk.
When 13 ON YOUR SIDE reunited with Galley two months after our first meeting, there was a noticeable difference.
“Folks in Big Rapids really stepped up, helped me out a lot. I’d like to give thanks to them all,” said Galley, who is no longer homeless.
He explained, “My paintings are going better now that I have a place to paint in. Got an apartment. Settling in.”
“He actually has housing available to him for the rest of his life,” said Ouderkirk.
Services she says are available through the city, so long as Galley continues to complete the requirements.
Ouderkirk proudly described how Galley “has an apartment of his own. He has a bed of his own. He has a microwave of his own.”
His place is now completely furnished thanks to the people of Big Rapids. Another Facebook post brought dozens of people out to help.
“I bet 50+ people showed up and said, ‘I have pots and pans,’ ‘I have bedding,’ ‘I have linen,’” said Ouderkirk before adding, “He has two TVs that were gifted to him.”
Meanwhile, his paintings, which started out as just a hobby, are now a source of income. His work is being sold at the Old Pioneer Store & Emporium.
“Doing that just to get extra money so I wouldn’t have to fly a sign saying ‘homeless, need help.’ It’s degrading. You have people that spit on you, tell you ‘get a job,’” said Galley.
Carlleen Rose is the store owner. She told 13 ON YOUR SIDE, “I looked at it and I go, ‘oh my goodness, I want to carry this in the store.'”
She said she pays Galley for his artwork as they are completed and that she plans to donate the proceeds to a homeless shelter.
She also said, “When we tell stories like this and you telling this story, it reminds us about our humanity and what really life is all about and I think it’s about love and about helping people.”
“There are many more, many more Shannons and I just encourage those community members that when we see homeless people that we actually talk to them, we visit with them, we treat them like a human and not just step over them,” said Ouderkirk.
Those who have helped Galley get back on his feet say even though there are programs in place to help people suffering from homelessness, without someone to help with paperwork or transportation, this can often be a very challenging process.
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