“I got lucky on Sunday.  A couple let me take a hot shower at their home,” said Doug Gibbs.    “I hadn’t had a shower in three months, he added and said “Don’t get me wrong, I do sponge off everyday at a public restroom.”  But as far as a full shower, Sunday was it since late summer for him.

TOP PHOTO:  Chico (L) and Doug are regulars at the West End Marathon.

Priority Number One for Gibbs on Monday was to find a place out of the wind to sleep last night.  He was hoping he had enough money to get a motel room.  Temps were in the mid-20s with wind chills in the teens Monday night.

Doug is originally from Sydney, Ohio, and wound up in Tennessee nearly 30 years ago.  After he was hit by a car during the Blizzard of ’93, he was left paralyzed on his left side.  He’s also legally blind.

Gibbs is quick to say that a lot of people help him out.  He points to the door of the West End Marathon to tell that the folks in there are good to him. “I’m not a bum.  I don’t bum from people,” he said.

He calls Chico, his dog of 18-years, his only friend in the whole world- except for the Lord.

The 60 year old Gibbs has been in La Follette for six years now.  He said he just rattles around and hopes the Lord can find him a better day- or go on and take him.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 11/27/2018-6AM)

23 Replies to “‘I look like a bum. But I’m not’ – Doug Gibbs”

    1. I have had many conversations with Doug and even went to a vet’s office to see about helping out Chico. Doug told me he could not take Chico to a shelter and that’s only part of what stands in his way of getting housing. Chico has medical problems that would require ongoing treatment, which Doug can not pay for. Doug is a very nice man and needs someone or a group that could find him some help. I have only lived here two years and I have worried about him and Chico every day. I have helped him and Chico as far as food, but don’t know where to even start as far as shelter for the both of them. If anyone has any ideas I would be more than happy to help with the process. Please, someone with some connections reach out to help Doug and Chico.

  2. This guy has never ask me for a dime,but I do give to him when I see him out ,he is a sweet guy and I wish the government would give this man a warm home to call his own !! This breaks my heart !!

  3. Doug is a good man with a huge heart… He will go without so Chico does not have to. He loves that dog more than life. Chico is his best friend, Campbell County residents should take a page out of Doug’s book on loving their animals…

  4. Bless him Lord. Tennessee coalition should step up and help him if he is homeless. Lord I pray you find a way..

  5. I wish we could find him a place. He is a Good guy and doesn’t ask for help. Its too cold for him and chico to be out there. Lord Jesus please help this kind man get his dream of a warm home for him and chico bless him Lord with Good health and a good life.

  6. Please help this young man and his dog find a good warm place to stay he has never asked me for nothing but I do give to him God step in and take care of him

  7. Please let’s get together and get him a home. I have not lived here very long so I don’t know how the system works but his situation is not acceptable.Let’s all pray for God to guide us in helping this kind man and his precious fur baby !

  8. Why has he not applied for SSI, food stamps, HUD? These things are available for the disabled and this man is disabled. There are churches and maybe ETHRA that can help. Even Open Arms might can help with food. Six years is allot of time to be here without having had applied for benefits. If anyone takes up a donation to help get him out of the cold, please let me know. Praying that things can be worked out and get better for Doug and Chico.

    1. Likely because he doesn’t have a permanent address for them to send a check to. He likely doesn’t have a bank account for an automatic deposit to be placed into.

  9. LaFollette is way too close of a community for this man to be in this situation. Rally together, people. You all can do this. That, I have the ultimate faith in. We are a proud and compassionate people. If God lays it in your heart and you Can, do whatever it takes. If I still lived there, I’d take him to DHS and not leave until something was in the works. Don’t be afraid. I’ve picked up a total stranger and his dog and bought him a bus ticket to a safe place before not too long ago. We all need help from time to time. God watch over this man and his companion.

  10. I and my girlfriend are the couple that took Doug home so he could shower, I even bathed his dog Chico. We also cooked him a homemade meal. I’ve known Doug for several years and have given him rides on multiple occassions. Doug does have a place to stay, its a run down house without running water. The 5 ton heating/cooling unit was stolen from the house. Doug has never asked anyone for money, but people do given him some. He is a great guy and we plan on having him over again. Doug told me he was turned down for housing.

    1. Our system is messed up. I wonder if I started a go fund me page to just maybe fix up some things. And maybe help him apply for help from the Henderson settlement but that’s a summer project

  11. Someone should help him apply for SSI & housing for the disabled. It no cost or nearly no cost. Maybe he doesn’t know about it. Or, maybe because he’s legally blind, he can’t see to do it? But, there is help. Ask at Shepherds Home thrift store. I think they support a men’s shelter. Not sure if they allow pets. But, at the apartments for disabled , I’m sure they are
    allowed to have pets. I just don’t know where to apply. Maybe social security office

  12. My husband and I have met and spoken with him on several occasions. Usually he sits in the Walmart shopping center in Jacksboro/Lafollette, TN. We have seen him walking up and down the road every season. He told us personally he gets a disability check. We asked him if he had any family and he said he has a son that he tried to stay with once, but he steals his checks and spends them on drugs. That really hurt us. Then McDonald’s in the same parking lot gave him a job a couple of year’s ago, but his disability made it very difficult with his paralyzed arm. So he said he had to quit. He’s a very sweet man and does not solicit, but folks will go inside and buy him and his little dog what they need or give him cash. We moved to Georgia in January and I know if I drove 3 hour’s back there, they’d be sitting in front of Walmart. And he’s right, “he’s not a bum, he’s homeless!”So unless you have walked in his shoes, don’t judge him or anyone like him. It could happen to you!

    1. I don’t believe he does get a disability check. I am trying to look into this and see if there is any help for him and Chico.

  13. While visiting TN we meet Doug and Chico and he was very grateful for the things we gave him prayers they find a warm place to live. Many people can learn the true meaning of love for the love he shows for his little fur baby.

  14. I buy him some food the last time I was at Walmart buy bag of dog food a little help it matter to the people who need it the most…

  15. The place to possibly find help for him is the Office on Aging. It is in the same office as ETHRA behind the Local Dinner. They are there for the handicapped and people over age 60. They should be able to get the ball rolling. God Bless

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