Thirteen-year-old Theresa Compeland was born a little different
from other kids her age: Afflicted with scoliosis, a condition that
affects the curvature of the spine, and having only one lung and
one kidney, she spent much of her early childhood in and out of
doctor’s offices, looking for ways to make her body stronger.
Hollister – Thirteen-year-old Theresa Compeland was born a little different from other kids her age: Afflicted with scoliosis, a condition that affects the curvature of the spine, and having only one lung and one kidney, she spent much of her early childhood in and out of doctor’s offices, looking for ways to make her body stronger.
Never once, however, did any doctor worry about the state of her heart, which has compelled her to work as a champion for the community’s homeless.
“I wouldn’t be the same person if I didn’t have my disabilities,” she said. “I look at things a little different from most people, and I try not to take things for granted that other people might not think about.”
Last November, when Compeland was in the seventh grade at Marguerite Maze Middle School, a local news report on TV motivated her to take on Hollister’s homeless problem.
“I saw (Sheriff) Curtis Hill on KSBW, saying he wanted to get the homeless people out of town,” she said. “And it kind of made me mad because some of my uncles are homeless.”
She and her grandmother Diane Richardson took in one of her homeless uncles, who was a cancer patient, and cared for him in the last nine months of his life.
“He collected a bunch of cans and recycled them, so he could buy me a teddy bear for my birthday,” said Compeland. “And I wondered why he wanted to buy me a present when he had nothing. He was my favorite uncle.”
Although she had not heard of the community’s homeless task force, Compeland was ready to go ahead on her own. She wrote up a petition demanding the city invest in a homeless shelter, and with the help of some friends from school, circulated it around her own neighborhood, local churches and in front of grocery stores. Compeland gathered over 300 signatures, and says she was only turned down by about 10 people.
Eventually, the efforts of Compeland and her friends attracted the attention of the homeless task force. Homeless activist Marley Holte got in touch, and offered to pick her up after school and take her to the task force’s meetings.
This year, Compeland has managed to get her entire school involved in supporting the homeless shelter, which is set to open on Dec. 19. She helped organize a canned food drive for the shelter, and students are collecting blankets, soap, toiletries and towels for people who will need to stay at the shelter. The drive has been so successful that an entire room has been dedicated to storing the goods until they are needed, and a story about Compeland’s efforts will be featured in Maze’s yearbook.
“Everyone at school has been really helpful,” she said. “When I told my friends what I was doing, I didn’t know if they’d care, but everyone’s been really interested.”
Just over a year after Compeland started writing her petitions, she is thrilled to see the homeless shelter near completion, and plans to stay involved with the homeless task force.
“My goal is to get a year-round shelter,” she said. “This is a great start, but it can rain all year round. They will always need a place to sleep.”
Her dedication and persistence has been a source of inspiration to her fellow members on the homeless task force.
“I think she’s learned a lot while giving back to the community,” said Doug Emerson, of the homeless task force – who added she is one of his favorite people.
“I’ve learned a lot since I started this last year,” she said. “I think it’s important that we all help other people. If you’re selfish, it takes away from what you learn and your accomplishments. When you help other people, you can do anything.”
