Day 9: Video chat with a faraway friend.
Day 10: Feed a homeless person.

Day 9 turned into an activity that occured on day 10. This is due to the fact that I’d decided it would be fun to video chat with a friend I’d made on Tumblr who I’d never spoken to (aside from on the internet). I decided to ask Shannon, a girl from Indiana who shares a lot of my interests. We ended up not being able to schedule our conversation until Saturday evening (after a re-schedule), but ended up having almost an hour long chat about our plans and what we’d been doing lately. I got to meet her two cats and she got to meet mine. It was really nice to get to know her a little better than I’ve been able to from just reading her blog. We even made tentative plans to meet up when I go back to Ohio at Thanksgiving.

Day 10 was a challenge I was looking forward to, and I knew exactly where I was going to go and what I wanted to do. After working all morning and being lucky enough to have been provided a delicious lunch, I headed North to the only Chick-fil-a in town. When I got off the highway, I looked closely at all the medians to see if a man I’d given all the change in my car to a few days before was there. He was. His name is Dave and when I gave him a few quarters and nickles more than a week before, we talked while I waited at the red light. He told me how he was trying to get enough for a spicy chicken sandwich (his favorite) at the Chick-fil-a across the street. He thanked me for my contribution as the light changed and offered a bible verse. He waved as I pulled away.

I couldn’t stop thinking about Dave for the next few days. When I knew this challenge was coming up, I wanted to try and get Dave his favorite sandwich. After I made it to the North side, and confirmed he was there, I headed to the parking lot. I walked inside only to realize there were many different ways people liked their chicken sandwiches, and hoped he wasn’t allergic to anything. I decided on the deluxe with a side of waffle fries, a lemonade and a slice of cheesecake. The person taking my order said what I’d just chosen was their favorite meal on the menu. I told her that it was the man standing in the intersection’s favorite sandwich and that I’d wanted to give him lunch that day. The woman paused and looked into my eyes and said, “You mean Dave?”

Apparently Dave eats at Chick-fil-a at least once a week when he can get enough money. Another employee told me that he always makes sure Dave gets some extra fries, even if he didn’t order any. They both agreed that he’s a pleasant man who likes to talk about his faith and never makes a fuss or leaves a mess when he visits the restaurant. I asked for a $10 gift card and put it in the bag as well. I took a few ketchup packets and napkins and headed out the door. The woman who had taken the order smiled and told me she wished more people would do such simple things then asked me to please come again.

I was planning to drive by and hand him the food out the window, but I had this overwhelming urge to walk up to him and deliver the bag of food and drink. He can’t be very old, maybe 45 or 50 with salt-and-pepper hair. His skin is dark and wrinkled, like he’d spent many years out working in the sun. Though it was hot, he wore a flannel shirt and jeans with work boots and a cap. I pushed the button for the cross walk and waited. Dave was focused on the cars approaching from the freeway exit as I stepped from the curb and into the street. I came up behind him and said “Excuse me, Dave?” He was visibly startled as he turned around. I handed him the lemonade first then he put down the cardboard sign he held to take the bag from me. He looked confused and asked “Do I know you?” I said no, but that I’d talked to him here last week and that I wanted to make sure he got his sandwich. He was quiet.

After a long pause, he simply said “God bless you, I appreciate this very much.” I told him to be careful and hurried back across the street before the light changed as he turned back toward the great heard of automobiles before him.

I’ve worked with homeless people before, and have found that most of the time when someone takes a moment to speak to them and look them in the face, it helps them feel like a person again. I’ve spoken to several homeless people who’ve told me they felt invisible and useless because no one even acknowledges them. It is uncomfortable, and sometimes frightening, but it’s necessary that we help our neighbors remember that they’re not second-class citizens because they’ve fallen on hard times. I feel this is a very important act and try to be friendly and giving as much as I possibly can.

This has been my favorite challenge so far. I think I’ll try and do things of this nature on a more regular basis.

If you’re interested in participating in this challenge from #30DaysOfGood, find more information on day 9 here and day 10 here.

(Source: icatchfoxes)