Marine wants to 'sell' his military leave to help homeless

Cpl. Matthew Purkey thought of others first, or he wouldn't have joined the Marines. Very few join any branch of the service thinking of themselves first. It's usually a case of caring about others, giving back, doing their part. What makes this story all the more telling about the type of people joining the military is what this man wanted to do instead of taking care of himself for Thanksgiving.

He wants to give back by taking care of homeless people.

No one would find any fault in him for wanting to spend Thanksgiving with his family or friends instead. While we walk by the homeless everyday, he thinks of them. While we decide they are not worth our time or find excuses to not care, he thinks of them.

Marine wants to 'sell' his military leave to help homeless

By Margo Rutlede Kissell, Staff Writer
5:47 PM Monday, August 24, 2009
Marine Cpl. Matthew Purkey wants to “sell” his 96 hours of military leave over Thanksgiving to raise $2,400 to benefit a homeless shelter.

The 27-year-old Waynesville native would like to spend those four days living among and helping the homeless in Wilmington, N.C., where he’s stationed at Camp Lejeune. Purkey is seeking $25 in donations per hour of leave to raise the money.

He came up with the idea to help Good Shepherd Center, a nonprofit that feeds the hungry and shelters the homeless, after hearing his Life Community Church minister gave a sermon asking the congregation if they’re doing enough to help those less fortunate.

“In the Marines, I’m taught to fight wars abroad,” said Purkey, whose 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit is expected to deploy in January, possibly to Afghanistan. “I realized wars need to be fought locally here, too.”
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Marine wants to sell his military leave to help homeless