A man who describes himself as Christian and homeless has reached out to a Norfolk news station for a Thanksgiving wish.
Neal Shytles hopes to find a family to take him in for the holiday, and said he would be eternally grateful.
"I am lonely like 365 days a year but Christmas and Thanksgiving are two of the worst days, and I really miss having some kind of family atmosphere around me," Shytles told WTKR NewsChannel 3.
"It would mean the world to me if somebody took me in," he continued. "Just for that one day, for a couple hours."
The former taxi driver grew up in Hampton Roads, Virginia, but no longer has family living in the area. After losing his job nearly two years ago., his savings went fast.
"Everything that I'd saved up I started dishing out to people that were taking me in and everything was gone," he explained. "When I was dropped off at the front door here, I was one of these people that never thought I would be here."
Shytles has lived at the Union Mission Ministries men's shelter for a year and a half, and rents his bunk through his Social Security payments.
While he struggles financially and has few possessions, the self-proclaimed Christian said the worst part of his situation is the loneliness.
"It hurts me to be alone, no family or nobody around," he admitted. And that's why Shytles reached out to WTKR.
"It would mean so much, because you know like I said, I'm lonely and it`s just forming that relationship with somebody would be so important to me," he said. "It would mean so much and I would really cherish it."
Whether a family takes him in this Thanksgiving or not, Shytles said he still has things to be thankful for.
"You know I'm grateful for even being here," he shared.
