DJFyrewolf36
11-10-2008, 08:06 PM
Today we went for our weekly grocery run. Outside of the store there was a booth set up taking donations for the local VFW chapter. It really made me sad to see people just walk by and give disgusted looks at the poor guy running the booth. I felt bad because I didn't think I had any money on me but I really wanted to donate. I stuck my hand in my pocket and found that I had 40 cents...4 dimes...that I had forgotten about. I went to the booth and told the guy that I felt awful that I didn't have any more to give. He said that every little bit helps and thanked me for even stopping and saying hello. He gave me a "Buddy" Poppy (if you don't know the history of the Buddy poppy check out this link (http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=cmty.levelc&cid=127) ) and thanked me again for helping out. I know I will be wearing my poppy tomorrow (and every day) proudly, remembering those who made sacrifices to make our lives better.
Leaving the store, John noticed a woman who looked in really sorry shape holding a sign on the street corner. She looked obviously hungry, so me and John stopped to give her some food. Turns out she was on a cross country trip with her husband when they ran into car trouble out here. Long story short they are stuck here, knowing no one and the car (their only shelter) got impounded because it wasn't able to be moved and the cops took her husband to jail for vegrancy on top of it all (A story I tend to believe as I've seen the police around here hassle a LOT of people just trying to get warm). They didn't know about any help services because no one bothered to stop and even inform them. The poor lady had been sitting outside for a couple of days, just trying to make sure her dog could eat, going without food to make sure her pup was ok. I know most people have this stereotype in their heads about people bumming money and going and buying booze or drugs but this poor woman genuinely needed help. We gave her food and a couple of sodas and she broke down in tears, thanking us so much because we were the first people to stop all day. I know the signs of low blood sugar and malnutrtion (and the difference between that and being strung out on drugs) and she really looked bad :(. Her pup looked ok though thankfully. I watched her sit down and before she even took a bite she gave some food to her dog. My financial situation isn't the greatest in the world but I sure as hell am thankful for what I do have. I think through all the economic hard times, people really need to focus on that instead of complaining about the things they have give up. It could be any one of us stuck on the street corner wondering how our pet is going to eat. I watched people yell at this woman and call her all sorts of things and I had to wonder what exactly THEY would do if the roles were reversed.
I am glad I made a difference in peoples lives today, not because of some sense of self satisfaction and worth but because it was the right damn thing to do. I wish more people felt that way.
Leaving the store, John noticed a woman who looked in really sorry shape holding a sign on the street corner. She looked obviously hungry, so me and John stopped to give her some food. Turns out she was on a cross country trip with her husband when they ran into car trouble out here. Long story short they are stuck here, knowing no one and the car (their only shelter) got impounded because it wasn't able to be moved and the cops took her husband to jail for vegrancy on top of it all (A story I tend to believe as I've seen the police around here hassle a LOT of people just trying to get warm). They didn't know about any help services because no one bothered to stop and even inform them. The poor lady had been sitting outside for a couple of days, just trying to make sure her dog could eat, going without food to make sure her pup was ok. I know most people have this stereotype in their heads about people bumming money and going and buying booze or drugs but this poor woman genuinely needed help. We gave her food and a couple of sodas and she broke down in tears, thanking us so much because we were the first people to stop all day. I know the signs of low blood sugar and malnutrtion (and the difference between that and being strung out on drugs) and she really looked bad :(. Her pup looked ok though thankfully. I watched her sit down and before she even took a bite she gave some food to her dog. My financial situation isn't the greatest in the world but I sure as hell am thankful for what I do have. I think through all the economic hard times, people really need to focus on that instead of complaining about the things they have give up. It could be any one of us stuck on the street corner wondering how our pet is going to eat. I watched people yell at this woman and call her all sorts of things and I had to wonder what exactly THEY would do if the roles were reversed.
I am glad I made a difference in peoples lives today, not because of some sense of self satisfaction and worth but because it was the right damn thing to do. I wish more people felt that way.