Elijah Wabnitz, on the Portland Waterfront Today.
Elijah Wabnitz, 35, knew the career path he wanted to pursue. That’s why he majored in photography and screen writing at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. But when 7 or 8 of his college friends succumbed to drug overdoses, Eli chose a different path.
That new path was helping the most vulnerable among us he said today as he was walking his daily 8 plus mile well-defined route on the Portland waterfront. “I do community outreach for individuals who are homeless, regardless of their habit of substance use. I’m trying to bridge the current gaps in the services available.” It’s only very recently that he has begun to accept cash donations.
“Many programs get funding that’s earmarked for specific needs. It doesn’t always include those who are substance users,” Eli said. This gentle guy says he provides food vouchers, snacks and drinks as they are available to him. He also provides medical supplies to those in need of them – such things as band-aids and Ace wraps,. “There are a lot of good entities built to support these communities, but gaps are found because they aren’t being filled,” Eli said, “I’m trying to fill these gaps and support those who are not supported by others. There is a lot of burnout in lots of those organizations.” His primary source for medical supplies is “Common Space,” formerly Aimstad, located at 75 India Street.
Another title he has adopted is Protector of the Planet. He picks up litter randomly on his routine walk on the waterfront. In the short time Eli has been on the job, he has picked up 332 syringes, distributed 26 Narcan kits and administered three Narcan kits.himself. He picks up 20 gallons of litter a day and dumps it into city receptacles. When he sees overflow garbage receptacles, he lets the city know about them. “I’ve had a hard time finding a job in which my passion and skills are fully aligned,” said the articulate Eli.
His father died three years ago. “Thanks to my late father’s estate, I’ve been able to start up this project and I hope to be able to keep it going.” In fact, he hopes to expand his project and get businesses on the waterfront. involved with this unique opportunity to serve the community.”