Scott Shaw’s life turned upside down when, in the span of a year and a half, he was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, terminated from his job of 18 years, his marriage ended and he lost his house — briefly becoming homeless.

“It just became a very difficult life,” the Glennwilde resident said. “During that time, I met a lot of homeless people.” 

Shaw, who had lived in California, saw a side of society he hadn’t before. And while he was able to scrimp what he had left and buy his Somerset Drive forever home for $170,000 in 2016, he knew an overwhelming majority of the unhoused people he had met didn’t have a way to get back on their feet.

Heck, at today’s real estate prices, he’d still be homeless. 

Shaw’s cancer today is in remission, but doctors couldn’t destroy the entire tumor — despite four brain surgeries — due to it astringing his brain stem, snaking down his spine and around his eye. 

Still, the 59-year-old is focused on helping the homeless — a worsening problem in Maricopa — his cancer be damned. 

“I went through a very blessed part of my life,” Shaw conceded, “to be able to help people after going through what I went through. I couldn’t see no other better time to thank God for everything he’s done for me.”  

For the last five years, Shaw has helped hundreds of people experiencing homelessness. He buys them food and brings them clothes, arranging accommodations where he can. 

He said he most often he finds people experiencing homelessness at the McDonald’s on Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway.  

“People go in there to escape the hot and cold weather,” Shaw said. “I just try to do whatever I can for whatever they need.”  

Shaw called one such gentleman, whom he knows as Lloyd, a “blessing to his heart.” He often spotted Lloyd at McDonald’s and Pacana Park. 

“He walked from the park all the way down to Walmart and I would say, ‘Hey Lloyd, you need a ride?’ He probably walked 10 to 15 miles a day and he just had my heart because of the kindness he had,” Shaw recounted. “I would always give him clothes, take him to my home and let him use my shower, cut his hair and everything else.”   

Shaw said he was overjoyed last year when Lloyd, who ended up on the streets after surviving abuse, was taken in by a family. 

“It was such a blessing, such a beautiful love that hit my heart to watch somebody take care of him,” Shaw said. “I was sad to see him leave, but it was also great to see him go.”  

Shaw said that no matter his own tribulations, he has a calling to serve. Terminal brain cancer couldn’t take it away. 

“It’s very difficult for me to just watch them suffer,” Shaw said. “As much as people love life and have the ability to live and enjoy it, please understand those who can’t — and have the love and the desire to help others as you would want others to help you.”