Today I saw a man standing at a stop sign on the off ramp for the interstate. He made me sad. He was holding a sign that said “VETERAN ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED”. He had his entire belongings wrapped up in a back pack at his feet. He wore dirty black jeans, and blue shirt. He was unshaven with a white beard, and a digital camo ball cap. I am sure at some point in his life he mattered to someone, and could have once been someone of great importance. What happened to him to bring him to the level he is at now?. Senior who is very wise told me “ You don’t know what he did in his life to cause him to be homeless, but on the other side of the spectrum we don’t know what happened to him to cause it either".
My other problem is I don’t like to just hand out cash to the homeless. My father worked the busiest fire station for many years. His stories of the drunken homeless downtown can curl your hair. He has always told me, NEVER give cash, most will only use it to buy cigarettes and alcohol. It is better to go through a drive thru and pick them up a meal. The other problem with today was there was no fast food places nearby. Had he been one mile south there are numerous, and I could have got him a hot lunch.
So the boys and I drove on and went about our errands. I Pray that someone came along and did offer him some help so that he can be on his way.
Truly a sad story, but in these times you did the right thing, protect family first.
ReplyDeleteYea really sad...just wish it was safer to help out folks like that. We live so close to the interstate that its common place.
ReplyDeleteGotta be careful. You did the right thing. It's not easy to see some of these folks. It makes me sad also. But, they did a story on a fellow, several years ago. He looked so hopeless. He made over $90 some odd thousand dollars, begging and pan handling. He had a family, and a nice house. It was one of those stories that Barbra Walters did on 20/20.
ReplyDeleteBut there ARE those that are out there, that really do need some help of some kind. It's just hard as hell to figure out witch one's they are.
Any way, Hope that you and yours have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!
JUGM - i am so sorry this happened and you weren't able to do anything. but you do have to take care of your little one's first...that the times are so bad is not our fault. and hopefully, someone was able to help him out. i feel as bad about this incident as you do.
ReplyDeleteyour friend,
kymber
Flier- I think Iremember that story on 20/20. truely disgusting the way he was taking advantage of people. Kind of like every year at Christmas they do a charitable toy donation to the "less fortunant"...so out in the parking lot you see all the parents driving Cadillacs, and fancy SUVs...makes me sick.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and your family as well..and Thanks for stopping by my clothesline!
Kymber-It is so darn common place around here or anywhere anymore. At any given time there are people up at the interstate or walking down the secondary highways here...Ive never seen so many.. You and Senior are both right, Its not our fault, and while you want to help one person you can't help them all. its like going to the pound to adopt a puppy or kitty..you can't take them all home..
Wise of you. He has options. Cash to such is nothing more than another bottle of MD 20/20.
ReplyDeleteStephen- That is exactly what my dad would tell me. : )
ReplyDeleteJUGM; I feel your pain. Living in a bigger city and near the interstate, we see many such folks. On one hand we try to teach our children to help others when possible, then that next moment we have to explain that the world is too dangerous to help some folks that seem to be in need. What are we to do?
ReplyDelete