"The Forsaken Ones"

A two year study of a forgotten and forsaken group of people who are our neighbors wherever we may be. These are impoverished, marginalized individuals who relied on The Caring Hands Soup Kitchen in Kingston, New York for daily food and shelter. Each individual volunteered in a make shift studio on location, was paid a modeling fee for their portrait and autobiographical statement and received a 17x22 copy of their portrait. Many attended the opening that was held at the soup kitchen. This project was a front page story in our local paper who saw the importance of the stories that were told. The images have been exhibited several times as a fundraiser for the soup kitchen. Sadly, the kitchen has closed down and the individuals have dispersed to who knows where. Several have succumbed to their harsh living conditions over the past several years. The individuals in this project are trapped in this vicious cycle and it is doubtful that any have broken free. In truth, their numbers have simply been added to.