The whole point of being charitable is to do it in private and not pat yourself on the back about how great you are or what a wonderful thing you did – hence me not posting this on my own blog. However, human nature being what it is, I am still wanting to do just that! So, a compromise. I figure if I post about it anonymously, it wont be so much bragging as it is sharing a great experience.
Last week I was in the city to meet up with someone about something and decided to walk the distance to his office rather than cab it or transit. As I walked the 8 blocks required, I passed a coffee shop, and a homeless man standing outside the coffee shop begging for spare coin. I could see him with his hand out as I walked towards the coffee shop, and I could see people ignoring him, giving him dirty looks and skirting around him to enter the shop. As I walked past, he asked me for change as well, saying he only wanted a cup of coffee. I walked past him, thinking what most people think; he probably wants the money to go buy booze. Or smokes. And I kept walking. But I got about 3 paces past him and something else in my brain said ‘hey… it’s freaking cold out here – you were wanting a hot drink too’, and I turned back and confronted the man. I asked him ‘you want the money for a cup of coffee?’ and he said ‘yes’.
I told him to come inside the shop with me, and that I’d not give him the money, but I’d buy him a cup. His eyes lit up like a little kid and he followed me in. We both got some looks inside but I didn’t care – he was my guest, and he had just as much business being there as I did. We got to the counter and I orded a hot cocoa and told him to order whatever drink he wanted – he ordered the largest size cup possible then with head bowed asked sheepishly if he could have a pastry to go with it. Of course I said yes. The guy behind the counter looked at this homeless man like he was a leper but he brought the items and I paid for them and he remembered to thank me before scurrying off to add a ton of sugar and cream to his drink. I paid for the lot, took my own drink, and left the shop smiling.
I know that the arguement is always ‘dont give money to beggars or the homeless’. That you’re much better off to put your money into the organizations who provide soup kitchens and beds overnight to these people. That giving them money only ‘encourages’ them – encourages them to what, stay homeless? continue begging for a few dollars? Sometimes… what they need most is food or shelter on the spot, and I know this fellow would not go walking the many miles needed to find the nearest soup kitchen. I walked the rest of the way to my friend’s office with a smile on my face.
