Impacting Lives, One Shirt and One Soul at a Time
How a Phoenix small business impacted one man’s 25 years of homelessness, turning his journey into a lifetime of healthy relationships, loyalty and a positive outlook on life.
Transitioning from a familiar way of life to an unfamiliar way with opportunity and grace is no easy feat for one to accomplish.
Fortunately for one man, the transition gives him a new lease on life, a chance to give back to others and a newfound purpose.
Twenty-five years of being homeless in multiple states, becoming an informal leader of a city block and experiencing unfathomable events taught John, a second-chance employee at Wash the City, a level of discipline an average person can’t understand.
The discipline…
Maintaining watch over everybody on his block.
Ensuring the safety of people under his caring eye.
Understanding how and when to protect himself or others when dangerous situations arise.
Learning the value and selfless act of giving back to others.
Once being unsheltered and working for Wash the City also taught John something he’s carried with him throughout his life.
Loyalty.
"I will never work for anybody other than Jayce," says John. "If I lose this job, I won't screenprint shirts for anyone else."
His devotion to serving with those who served him and helping eradicate homelessness speaks volumes.
It creates a story in itself.
This is John’s success story and the story of those who gave him a second chance at restoring his livelihood and his purpose.
The Difference Makers
A day of driving around pondering why the homeless wear old, raggedy clothes sparks an idea and a business venture in Jayce Candrea. A God-given purpose and a newfound mission to serve his community strike a chord in him.
He eyes a need within his community but discovers a hindering problem: an impactful way to give.
After days of considering the best way to give and using his business knowledge, Candrea creates a faith-based clothing brand that pairs a product with a service.
On January 3, 2021, his brand, Wash the City, comes to life to connect those in need with those who can contribute to their mission.
More than selling his products, Candrea contributes 10% of proceeds from sales to purchasing food, water, first aid supplies and clean clothing for unsheltered individuals.
Outside of printing T-shirts and other products by hand, attending business meetings and working tirelessly to elevate the brand, the Wash the City crew dedicates time to serving others.
Fulfilling this missional purpose is ingrained in Wash the City's service to God and their community. They take pride in serving others and doing their part to make unsheltered individuals feel valued, heard and seen. Whether handing out products to people experiencing homelessness, striking a conversation or relationship with someone, or working to get their new mobile laundry service running, their focus is always on positively impacting others.
“A shirt that’s been washed 50 times, worn by three different people and survived generations is a shirt that tells a story.”
This method of serving others in need shares an impact with numerous people Candrea and his “homies” serve. But their selfless missional ambitions affected someone they served for years on a deeper level.
To Candrea, it’s more than simply seeing them on multiple occasions.
Candrea and his employees develop a relationship with this person and share countless positive conversations that lead to something more meaningful.
They notice a desire within this "second-chance" employee to give back to those just as he was given to when living on the street. It is a breakthrough in discovering a turning point in his life and a chance to connect with God and serve others through Him.
That person, a second-chance employee for Wash the City, is John McMillan.
The Success Story
John, also known as “the Johnster,” is one of Wash the City’s success stories. With help from Wash the City and other organizations, he transformed his life from negativity and experiencing things no person should ever encounter to radiating positivity, fulfillment and happiness.
His parents kicked him out of their home when he was 13 years old, a critical time of intellectual development and growth. John entered the world with a bag packed with all his belongings, a few dollars and a sense of confusion, wondering how he would navigate living by himself.
John spent nearly a quarter of a century roaming around Texas, Oklahoma and Arizona. During his time in Arizona, he lived around Downtown Phoenix and became an informal leader of a city block that oodles of individuals call home.
While there, John ensured the safety of everybody under his care. Living on the street presents unanticipated danger at any moment, and John’s top priority is protecting those he cares for. He takes great pride in using the discipline and sixth sense he developed while learning to live independently. His self-discipline comes from navigating the world on his own and growing up without a stable place to live.
Throughout childhood, one typically learns discipline by obeying rules, following directions and acting appropriately.
For John, discipline elevates to learning and developing survival skills at a young age. It also involves respecting others and himself, learning the value of leadership, understanding relationships from a different point of view, and teaching himself the power of loyalty.
Image taken by Wash the City
One day, while John was wandering about, a group of individuals, later dubbed as “the T-shirt guys” working for Wash the City, rolled up wearing orange vests with their signature two-faced logo, pushing around shopping carts and wagons full of clothes, food, water and survival essentials.
These individuals were on a mission to serve unsheltered individuals and help them seek a better life, greater opportunities, a rekindled purpose and a sense of being, aside from the bonus of shopping for free and getting a new shirt, a bottle of water and some food.
John walked up to the Wash the City crew, grabbed a T-shirt and talked to their ringleader, Candrea. From there, John and Candrea sparked a relationship, just as Candrea hoped.
Image taken by Wash the City
When the two met, John didn’t know that their newly sparked relationship would become a shared dedication for and loyalty to serving others and a second chance at living a healthier life.
After years of receiving help from Wash the City, John disappears. One year later, he returns randomly as the Wash the City crew serves. When the crew and John reunite, John is eager to share some exciting news with Candrea.
Humbled by their selfless and unrelenting acts of serving him, John accepts the job and is grateful for the chance to work for them. To John, that is his way of saying 'thank you' and giving back to those who gave to him.
From then on, John committed to turning to a new chapter of his life—one of peace and positivity.
Working as a Second-Chance Employee
John feels working for Wash the City is a blessing and an opportunity to serve with them. Since he started, he had opportunities to:
- Design his own T-shirt that Wash the City sold
- Sort products at their small warehouse space they call their "shop"
- Pin tags to shirts for sale while working Wash the City's booth
- Print size tags on the inside of shirts
Top left image taken by Wash the City
More important than being thankful for Wash the City’s devotion to serving him, John rejoices in an elevated lifestyle that allows him to explore Christianity—the religion of Candrea and his wife.
“It means a lot to me to be working with them,” says John. “To be honest, they brought me closer to God, and it makes me feel good knowing they are giving back and that they care about the homeless."
“I’m proud to be Jayce’s friend and working for him.”
After John baptizes and becomes closer to God, his relationship with Candrea and Wash the City remains unbreakable. It is a bond between two individuals who live in two different worlds and now share a goal of serving others, with faith at the forefront of their efforts.
Serving others and working with Candrea at any time of the day is part of John’s mission and will continue to fulfill him in his new chapter of life.
Whether printing tags or interacting with customers at their booth for events, John leaves an indelible mark on everything he does and shares an impactful success story of commitment, learning and loyalty to giving back.
How Can We Do Better to Serve Others?
As human beings and as a community, we have opportunities to serve others and do better to ensure homelessness does not have to affect another person.
We have the power to create change, whether it is through words, actions, donations, initiatives or kindness.
John got back on his feet with help from Candrea, Wash the City, various organizations and himself. His efforts and success story speak to our influence on human beings to make better choices for the greater good of not only oneself but the betterment of a community.
Making a difference in someone’s day can be as surface level as a thank you or as deep as making them say...
Support for unsheltered individuals
D Squared Homes for the Homeless
D Squared Homes for the Homeless is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to assisting those experiencing mental health and homelessness. They work across Maricopa County and Arizona to help the mentally ill and unsheltered individuals find temporary relief when traditional services cannot meet their needs.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is a governmental organization that provides health and well-being services to all Americans.
Arizona Department of Health Services
The Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS) is an organization that advocates for and protects the health and wellness of Arizona's children and adults.
City of Phoenix - Community Action Response Engagement Services
At its core, PHX Community Action Response Engagement Services (C.A.R.E.S.) is the city's process of connecting the community with services like encampment cleanups, shelters, and other resources for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
