Survival and Saint John’s Hospice – Meet Craig “40” Kilby
Craig Kilby, known in the Philadelphia neighborhood as “40”, has a kind gentle energy and sly sense of humor felt by staff and residents at Saint John’s Hospice (SJH). A dedicated volunteer of 24 years, the West Philadelphia native is a constant presence, volunteering five days a week.
Yet, few truly know the path he took to get here. To understand Kilby, it helps to start with his nickname.
“I used to drink down at my old stomping grounds. I would drink a 40 every five minutes. The girls said, ‘We’re going to start calling you ‘40,’ and it’s stuck ever since,’” he said.
Drinking led Kilby to substance use, then to homelessness. Bouncing from shelter to shelter, Kilby finally found SJH, one of the oldest shelters in the city run by Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
The ministry provides life-sustaining services including temporary emergency shelter, meals, showers, medical and behavioral healthcare, and case management as well as a residence for over 150 men annually.
Kilby was a resident at SJH’s drug and alcohol-free emergency residence for men who are in transition from homelessness to independent living in the community.
“I was welcomed with open arms,” Kilby said. “I lived on the third floor for three or four years.”
It wasn’t always easy, though, as Kilby hit rock bottom soon after finding SJH. On December 28, 2000, ten people, including Kilby, were shot in a drug house on the 800 block of Lex Street in West Philadelphia. Seven people died, but he survived – with a bullet in his chest, landing an inch from his heart.
“I still go through it in my head. I still have nightmares to this day,” he said.
Thankfully, SJH has served as a place of healing and purpose for Kilby, with staff and residents supporting him every step of the way through recovery. Recognizing that the journey hasn’t been easy, he says SJH became his anchor.
“That’s why I come here so often – to take my mind off of those things.”
Now, Kilby and his sister share a home in Philadelphia. SJH remains a huge part of his life, as he is regarded as one of the most dedicated volunteers there. He serves food, loads the truck, and helps in any way he can. It’s his way of giving back to the place that gave him a second chance.
Damon Cottman, food services manager for SJH, can attest to Kilby’s positive impact on everyone at SJH – including him.
“40 is well respected in our community like family because he has been a part of St. John’s for so long,” Cottman said. “From his days serving meals on the line to greeting clients as they enter, he has built such great relationships with all the people we serve and our volunteers as well.”
“I love seeing guys come back after 10 years, telling me how much their lives have changed,” Kilby said. “It brings me joy.”
Whenever residents ask when he plans to retire, Kilby has a simple answer: “[I] ain’t going nowhere.”
As a piece of advice to those trying to turn their lives around as he did, Kilby offers this: “Keep up the good work, and God will show you good things.”
Saint John’s Hospice, a program of the Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, is a nationally recognized leader in providing essential residential and day services, acting as a beacon of hope for those experiencing homelessness. For more information about volunteering or to make a donation, visit www.saintjohnshospice.org.