“Being in a wheelchair, just trying to get around, Reno's roads suck. There's cracks everywhere and everything. It's up and down. Cracks and slides. But I do like Reno.
I think it's a beautiful place. And for the most part, there's kind people here, and it just depends on which area you're in.
I’m Darrel. I’m 44 and I used to work in a restaurant as a server. I’ve also been an EMT.
Last winter, I slipped on black ice and broke my tibia, fibula, ankle, and part of my foot. I lost my apartment a month later because I lost my job.
In my wheelchair, it takes me two hours just to get to a gas station.
I used to live right there, near the Wild River Grille.
I am now staying at the Cares Campus, which feels horrible.
There's a lot of people who just, they treat you like they're above you.
I couldn't work, so I ended up there. If I can find a job that allows me to kind of stumble around and use my wheelchair, I’d be happy to work again.
During the day, I try to come closer to downtown so I can stay away from all the anger and there's a lot of vulgar language. You know? Down on 4th Street?
And the food sucks at the Cares Campus. I refuse to even go to the food section. They, like, serve the same stew. Or it’s things that don't go together. And then they feed you at four o'clock. That's dinner.
And then breakfast is at six o'clock in the morning. But they only give you a doughnut. And they took away the coffee, which I don't drink anyways. I don't care. I try to eat my meals elsewhere.
But what if someone's diabetic? So they don't eat in the morning. From four o'clock in the afternoon. Like, what if they don't have food stamps?
I mean, it does help people, and there's a lot of people who may have some good case managers, and they really try to get you out of there.
Certain people, they treat differently. I'm not gonna lie.
As long as it's sunny and I'm out of there, that's a good day if I can go somewhere peaceful.
That's why I come over to the river and stuff, where it's quiet, and I can have conversations.
It's a better environment for me mentally.
We should have a book club at the Cares Campus, or have something to get people mentally stimulated instead of just waiting.
Like something to keep their mind off of their urges.
They need things that are more positive and not just everyone talking down to you.
My message to the community? Just be positive to each other, and you'll receive positivity.
If you're sending out negativity, you're gonna receive negativity.”
Our Town Reno reporting by Joey Azar and Nate Vallin