Former Homeless Man's Compassion Recognized

By: Mark Allen Wood
Wood Media Staff Writer

Leo Mendosa Leo lives in a large rooming house on Howard Street. He is a very compassionate and humble individual who gives from the heart to those less fortunate. Through an unfortunate series of personal tragedies, Leo found himself homeless and living in a shelter in Salem. But the story doesn’t end here; he picked himself up and found work and is now a hard-working security guard at the Peabody Essex Museum. Leo recently received a City of Salem City Seal award courtesy of City CouncillorTom Furey.

This past 2014 Thanksgiving as many of us were gathering around with our families to celebrate the holiday or head on out to the local high school to check out the football game between the Witches and the Panthers, Leo was at home preparing 7 meals for folks who live with him in his rooming house. Leo made sure to include all the essentials for the meals and even delivered them to each resident himself. The compassion Leo showed for others shined beautifully as everyone was very grateful for the meals that they received.

I have the pleasure myself to work with Loe at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem where he serves as a Security Guard. At the museum Leo is one of the hardest working folks in the security department and most of the time when I see him I always ask him if he slept over cause he is always working as hard as he can to help better himself as a person professionally.

Many people should take a lesson from Leo and when the holiday season comes around in November and December you should always try to see if you can help out those who are ot able to or cannot enjoy a holiday on their own.We here at Wood Media would like to congratulate Leo Mendosa on his amazing accomplishment and his great humanitarian deed that he did for the community.