This Christmas is a little harder than many in past for Mike Hunniford, who recently lost his surrogate grandmother and best friend to cancer.
But, nevertheless, the recovering alcoholic is anxious to share just a sampling of the support that she and others have showed hime in the past eight years 鈥� helping him move off the streets and helping him to get and remain sober.
The 70-year-old woman, who was in the (Alcoholics Anonymous) program for some 20 years. She pulled Hunniford out of the bushes in front of the Starbucks on Fraser Highway eight years back.
鈥淪he found me and took me home,鈥� Hunniford explained.
He was a drunk and homeless at the time and likely facing an imminent death sentence if he didn鈥檛 change his ways.
His 鈥渁ngel鈥� was instrumental in helping Hunniford find the assistance he needed to turn his life around, including offering friendship when few others would.
She also introduced him to a veteran 91原创 outreach worker Fraser Holland, who was an invaluable resource for Hunniford get him connected with housing and many other support services.
鈥淭here鈥檚 some good people in this community,鈥� Hunniford said.
He remained close friends with his 鈥渁ngel鈥� until her recent death.
鈥淐hristmas without her is hard,鈥� he said.
Today, to honour her, he paints pictures every day in downtown 91原创 City.
But still, every day during the last seven months, rain or shine, Hunniford has been found with his makeshift artists easel, bottles of acrylic paints, and a shopping cart full of canvases and other painting supplies 鈥� camped out at the entrance to McBurney Plaza.
He鈥檚 there sharing smiles, chatting with passersby, and giving away smiles and his art to those who seem truly interested.
鈥淚t fills me with joy and love,鈥� he said of his painting.
鈥淎nd I give them away鈥� I give them to people who like them and enjoy them, and will hang them up. They have to hang them up, that鈥檚 one of the rules,鈥� he added with a coy smile.
Hunniford is easy to pick out in the crowd at McBurney. A cross tattooed on his cheek and smile on his face, he鈥檚 typically the guy at the side or in front of the McBurney Coffee & Tea House with his paint splattered and well-worn leather jacket.
Even though this Christmas season has been harder than most for Hunniford, a recent gesture from an anonymous person reassured him there is still great kindness in the world.
This most recent 鈥渟weet gesture鈥� came in the shape of a gift box that was mysteriously left next to his easel last week.
Inside, he discovered a care package complete with soup, muffins, some other baked goods, and one of the best gifts he could ever ask for 鈥� more paint supplies.
鈥淚t helps me out,鈥� he said, anxious to say thanks for these and all the other gifts 鈥� tangible and non-tangible 鈥� that he鈥檚 received through the years.
Now, he鈥檚 hoping to keep paying it forward.
He considers himself among the fortunate. He鈥檚 lost many friends to alcohol, drugs, and life on the street.
And Hunniford hopes he can offer just a smidgen of the support he鈥檚 received through the years 鈥� be it becoming a friendly ear to talk to for people living with mental illness, addiction, or homelessness, or whether it鈥檚 offering hope and advise to loved ones who struggle as they watch family member or friends dealing with the same.
It鈥檚 about education and compassion, he said. Often the disenfranchised are at or near an all-time low in their life, but they are still fellow human beings 鈥� they鈥檙e still someone鈥檚 father or mother, brother or sister, husband or wife, grandchild or spouse, Hunniford said, and people simply have to tap into their humanity.
鈥淲e have to care and love them, please,鈥� he said. 鈥淩emember that at this time of the year, and all year around.鈥�
