Homelessness (and sparrows)
I was walking to the downtown Goodwill today when I found myself standing near a crosswalk waiting for light to change. There was a couple homeless guys there and we chatted for a few moments. This lady pulled up next to me and out of the blue handed me three bags, instructing that they were for each of us. I was a bit dumbfounded but I took them and she drove off.
Inside each of the bags was some food and a toothbrush and toothpaste (wonder if she was a dentist? ;-)) I gave two of the bags to the homeless guys whom I was talking to and mine to another guy.
I have to admit I was a little miffed for a few minutes, “I do not look homeless!” I thought, looking down and my new boots and work jacket. Of course I do carry a large backpack around and was talking to homeless people. Michael sugguested this evening that the lady gave us all one just in case I was homeless, she didn’t want me to feel left out. That makes sense.
I think it was so thoughtful of that lady to be out delivering simple food items to people in need (even if I was a case of mistaken identity.) I like seeing people giving food and clothes to the homeless more then I like seeing them give money. Money can sadly be misused by some. This is certainly the giving time of year, which is wonderful, but I think it is so important to give back to the community all year around. Homelessness and poverty are not simply winter issues. (That said I think that lady was in the regular habit of handing out food.) This month, some of my local group are having a Winter Solstice gathering and we are asking all who attend to bring a donation for Second Harvest. We are hoping to make this a regular habit at all out sabbat gatherings. I think this is a good time of year to start the new tradition though.
Anyhow I am glad their are nice people left in the world, it gives me hope for the future.
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Completely unrelated: Why don’t birdwatchers like those little brown sparrows? I don’t understand, they are amazingly cute and inquisitive.
December 6th, 2007 at 8:38 pm
It was thoughtful of the lady and nice to know there are people out there helping. I had to chuckle a bit though to myself, you’re the second person I now who in the last week has been mistaken for a homeless person. I guess it only goes to prove the line between those who are and homeless and those who aren’t is pretty thin.
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December 6th, 2007 at 10:26 pm
If you’re talking about the House Sparrow/English Sparrow it’s because they’re pests and an invasive species. They’re a major contributing factor in the decline of the Eastern Bluebird, and I understand that a full flock can wreak havoc on a farmers grain field. They’re not native to this country, though they’re now pretty much -the- most abundant bird there is around. Yeah, they’re cute, but so are rabbits and mice and rats, but they’re all invasive species in many areas, Australia and its difficulties with rabbits for example, and any number of islands where rats have killed off the entire native population of birds/snakes/anything on the ground.
And it was terribly nice of that lady to give you and the others the bags. I bet Michael is right on how she didnt want to risk offending you, or was just being kind.
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December 7th, 2007 at 3:49 am
That lady was showing the true spirit of the season, and even though you didn’t need the things, she made you think. That would be a good thing for most of us, to become more aware of the needs of the homeless and poor. Atara’s description of House Sparrows is right on! We have no Bluebirds here because of them. They come in large numbers and chase away our native birds and will even kill young birds of other species in the nest. They have upset the bird balance. Starlings are another bird that were introduced from Europe that has become over abundant here.
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