All Charles Lark was after when he went to a soup kitchen on June 7 was a meal he could afford. It ended up being one of the worst days of his life after a homeless man attacked him.

According to Lark, who has worked for N.C. State University Dining as a temporary employee for three years, he was scheduled to go back to work at Fountain Dining Hall next week, but the injuries he suffered in the attack may keep him from returning to a job he loves.

“I’ve been a cook here for three years,” Lark said. “I work baseball games, I’ve done weddings and banquets. They send me on all the special little events. I do a lot of overtime too, if they’re short a staff member.”

This past school year, Lark mostly worked at the omelet station in Fountain.

“The line never ends, but I love it,” Lark said.

Lark was walking out of the soup kitchen around 5 p.m. when police say 26-year-old Jonathan Wayne Meadows attacked him. The police reports lists Meadows’ address as “Anywhere Raleigh, N.C.”

Lark, who is African American, said he believes Meadows, who is Caucasian, attacked him because of his race.

“The guy was muttering all kinds of racial slurs under his breath, saying he was going to kill all the foreigners and just anybody he can get a hold of. He’s just an evil man,” Lark said.

The homeless man struck Lark repeatedly with a steel pipe before Lark was able to fend the man off and chase him down Fayetteville Street. A policeman eventually intervened, and Lark, who was bleeding from his wounds, went to WakeMed for medical treatment.

Lark said it took eight staples to close a wound to his head and six more for a wound to his ear. Lark’s elbow was also fractured in the attack.

Lark, who has no health insurance, said he has visited WakeMed three times since that original visit to have the staples removed and get treatment for lingering complications.

“They gave me a prescription for percocet, but I don’t much like taking those because they’re addictive. I’ll take Advil,” Lark said.

Lark said the doctors who treated his injuries did not provide note stating he cannot return to work, but he said it is still too soon to return to work due to his elbow injury, which is still covered by a soft cast.

“The orthopedist didn’t say much, but I can see where the bone is kind of bent out of whack,” Lark said. “It’s gonna take time to get back, settled in and used to going [to work].”

In the meantime, Lark has no job and no money. He said he is virtually homeless, bouncing from friend to friend and sleeping on their couches.

With medical bills reaching $10,000 so far, Lark has consulted an attorney, but he was advised not to sue his attacker.

“They all told me it wouldn’t be any good to sue because he’s homeless, so he don’t have anything to sue for,” Lark said.

Lark said he hopes his injuries have healed enough for him to return to work in August-and when he does, he plans to pursue a permanent position.

“I really do need benefits, and they don’t offer that to temporary workers,” Lark said.