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The Lawrence-based Never Too Late program is trying to grant a wish for Lucious Newsom (above), 90, to collect 1,000 bags of groceries to donate to low-income families. Danese Kenon / Indianapolis Star |
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Retired pastor gets his wish
Program celebrates 1,000 wishes by granting another
By Ryan Heath
July 20, 2006
LAWRENCE - Lawrence resident Bob Haverstick has been granting wishes to people he calls "the forgotten elderly" for nearly seven years through his Never Too Late program. It recently granted its 1,000th wish by finding a way for a 92-year-old woman to take a turn at bat at Victory Field.
But instead of throwing a big party to celebrate the milestone, Haverstick decided to grant another wish -- this time to a man he knew would use the wish to give back.
"To celebrate that 1,000th wish, who better than Lucious Newsom, a beggar for the poor," Haverstick said. "This guy is a phenom. You sure can't tell he's 90. It's like God's got this pipeline to Lucious."
Newsom, 90, a retired pastor, came to Indianapolis 21 years ago, leaving his wife and children, with the sole mission of helping the poor. The Chattanooga, Tenn., native arrived in a brand new Chrysler New Yorker, making his first stop at a northside grocery store where he asked to take bread that was about to be thrown out.
He then asked for directions to the poorest neighborhood in the city and soon found himself making trips to and from the housing projects of Indianapolis with loads of food collected from area grocers.
"I became a real beggar," Newsom said.
Newsom traveled home to Chattanooga every fourth Sunday to attend his home church and visit his family, but he was back on the streets of Indianapolis Monday morning, he said.
Newsom eventually established The Lord's Pantry and today serves about 6,000 pounds of food daily in various neighborhoods throughout Indianapolis, he said.
"I don't even consider it serving the poor anymore," he said. "I just consider it serving Jesus."
When Newsom found out Never Too Late was offering to grant him a wish, it wasn't hard for him to decide what he wanted.
"The best thing anyone can do for me is help me serve the poor," he said.
To meet that demand, Never Too Late has undertaken the "Big Hairy Audacious Goal" to help Newsom collect 1,000 bags of groceries. Newsom hopes to donate the groceries to Anna's House, a clinic and learning center he has been working to build near New York and Elder streets in downtown Indianapolis. It's scheduled to open July 29.
"We're praying for that day," Newsom said.
Newsom doubts Never Too Late will get the job done without his experience, but he has faith the project will come together.
"I know they're not gonna do it," he said. "I'm gonna help them do it."
Haverstick hopes the wish will be granted by July 29, but said Never Too Late would extend its work until the goal is met.
When Haverstick granted his first wish by taking an elderly woman shopping for new clothes, he never considered whether or not he would reach 1,000. Some of his more notable wishes, made possible by donations and networking, have included a return trip to Normandy, France, for a World War II veteran, time on a functioning Naval destroyer docked at Norfolk, Va., for another World War II vet, and a meeting between a former Indiana Pacers player and a fan.
"When I see the sparkle in people's eyes, I know we're touching the core," he said.
As long as the wishes keep coming and he has the means to grant them, Haverstick said he has no plans of stopping. The idea behind the Never Too Late program has caught on in other areas around the state and country, and he would like to see it continue to spread.
"My wish would be to see an elderly wish program in every state in the union serving what I call the forgotten elderly," Haverstick said.
As for Newsom, he's still going strong at 90 with no plans of slowing down.
"I'm going on a good, good journey. I'm going to heaven, buddy," he said. "I'm working for that goal. My treasure's in heaven, not here.
I always tell everyone I'm building a mansion and every day I try to send up some timber."
Call staff writer Ryan Heath at (317) 444-5575.
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