LA's Homeless Saint

Gloria Kim collects food for the homeless. Click photo to enlarge.

The August 21 Times reported on the life and death of Ida Mae Prince, 58, a refugee from domestic abuse, who shared food and warm counsel from her plywood shanty on Westlake Valley near Ingelwood.

Street evangelist Gloria Kim of Zion Gospel Mission knew of her work helping addicts get clean or have their babies in hospitals instead of the alleys.

When she died of cancer St. John Chrysostom Parish in Inglewood took over Ida's funeral arrangements. Her wake drew people such as former cocaine addict Cody Atkins who – like many other – would return to visit with Ida and hear her words.

LAPD Sgt. Darius Trugman called Prince his unlikely friend as she stood up for him with toughs and gangs who would hear her out. Her lean-to is now kept open as a homeless refuge.

One mourner added: "Ida represented light in a dark place," and that is the essence of the faith.