Mercy Pedalers know homelessness is synonymous with isolation and loneliness. Loneliness makes people sick.
One recent study found that loneliness shortens a person’s life by 15 years. Other studies have found connections between loneliness and a wide range of health problems, including increased risk for heart attacks, strokes and cancer. Lonely people are more likely to suffer from insomnia, depression and drug abuse. The homeless are also more likely to suffer from more rapid cognitive decline in old age.
Mercy Pedalers ease some of this loneliness by acknowledging and interacting with the homeless — holding conversations, giving handshakes, making eye contact, sharing a cup of coffee. It is really pretty simple. We ask a person experiencing homelessness how their day has been, and really listen to the answer. Mercy Pedalers is a mission of presence and action.
