Working in the cold

I was just finishing up interviewing some shop owners and a few late customers carrying bags stuffed with Black Friday bargains when I spotted a figure huddled near the ground holding a going-out-0f-business sign on the corner of 15th and Bryant in Edmond. At first I wasn’t even sure there was a person holding the sign, maybe it was just a large pile of clothing.

Walking closer, I came upon Gary Chambers, bundled from head to toe except for his blue eyes. Chambers currently resides at City Rescue Mission in Oklahoma City and was hired for a six-hour shift to hold the sign for Bombay & Co. in Spring Creek Plaza. For his time, he’ll earn $30.

There were two other men holding signs on opposite corners.

It’s a pretty cold day outside with temperatures barely making it into the 40s, and windy, so I had one of those stupid reporter moments and blurted out, “Is this job even worth $30?”

“It’s better than sitting around at the shelter all day,” Chambers said.

Point taken.

Tricia Pemberton

Staff Writer

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