Stories Matching 'Homeless' Tag (140)Environment Research New Ideas Public Transportation Children Inspiration Teachers Seniors OnThe Road Grocery Store Money Workplace Animals At Home Anonymous Friendship Kindness Kindness of Strangers Courage Small Acts of Kindness Health and Wellness Generosity Sharing Family Respect Neighbors Reconciliation Smile Cards Advice Good Samaritan Giving Money Giving Ability School Church Youth Collective Arts Creative Kindness Random Act of Kindness Homeless Travel/Vacation College/University Holidays Internet Birthday Sharing Food Emergency/Disaster Community Relationships Paying-It-Forward Coffee Shop/Restaurants $100 Kindness Idea Smile Decks Thank You Serendipity Three Homeless Men--posted by mike adams, on Mar 24, 2008
comments (37) | email this | print | permalink A Firefighter's Point of View--posted by Moran, on Apr 22, 2007 Back in the day when I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life, I was studying to become a firefighter. I was a volunteer fire aide with the city of Milpitas, and was studying at mission college. As a firefighter, you're constantly thinking of other people and trying to help children. That's the mindset, at least for someone trying to get into a fraternity of brothers that is the No. 1 most difficult job in the country to get! One night after going to class I was heading home and decided to stop off at a burrito place. ... comments (24) | email this | print | permalink Christmas With My Son--posted by Anon, on May 5, 2006
comments (11) | email this | print | permalink A Pair of Sunglasses--posted by Joy, on Jul 12, 2006
I always seem to lose or toss sunglasses in my car. I noticed I did the same in my boyfriend's car recently. We both joked about them, but then we pulled up to a man at a street corner. It was a bright day and he was hoping someone would offer him some food or a bit of change. Instead, we gave him a pair of our sunglasses - the sun was so bright and he looked like he was a regular there. comments (7) | email this | print | permalink Got Up Off My Bed--posted by Jac, on Aug 8, 2006
For a long time, I have been toying with the idea of going abroad to do something worthwhile, a voluntary thing, either working with kids or animals... and have been spoiled for choices with the kind of organised things you can pick, different causes, different countries. It's very expensive though. And I was puzzling over how can I be able to afford the flights and costs and everything. And impatience took over me. comments (9) | email this | print | permalink Thirst Quencher On Busy Day--posted by ganon, on Aug 28, 2006 I was leaving my office late Saturday morning...a little bit grumpy because I had to get up early and go to work on the weekend, and was now running late for the next of my zillion obligations for the weekend...and the worst part was I had no time to eat a proper lunch. I was complaining about all of this to my husband on my cell phone, while I turned around from locking the door behind me, and then I spotted him. A man lying in the grass asleep. I said to my husband, "I'm sorry I've just been complaining. ... comments (4) | email this | print | permalink Sandals at New Year's Eve--posted by MS, on Oct 4, 2006
comments (13) | email this | print | permalink Learning Morality from a Begger--posted by Raghu, on Sep 22, 2006 We had just received a large donation of clothing at our non-profit organization. As we looked at the pile, we didn’t know what to do with it, but figured that the answer would present itself. As three of us walked home for dinner, we saw a woman begging by the bridge. She was old and had no legs. She shivered in her thin sari, which offered little protection from the cold wind, but could not seek even mild refuge in her “hut” (four wooden posts, with a tarp like material as a roof and walls). ... comments (3) | email this | print | permalink Music of a Stolen Symphony--posted by keymaker, on Nov 17, 2008 It's a late night on the streets of New York. Larger-than-life size billboards come alive with their glitz, trying to make you want things that you don't really need. Up ahead, I notice a homeless man who doesn't have the things he really does need. Ironic. "Gift size chocolate bar, one dollar, one dollar," he says while showing a candy bar to people walking by. He's rejected. "Just one dollar." Rejected again. "Candy bar, candy bar for you," he shows it to a child walking with her mom. The mom jerks her ... comments (52) | email this | print | permalink Three Smiles are Better Than One--posted by Danceman, on Oct 19, 2006
comments (5) | email this | print | permalink Midnight roses--posted by Satya, on Nov 19, 2006
I was recently at a conference in Barcelona, Spain (home of Gaudi) when I thought, wouldn't it be great to do a little act of kindness in a far away city? I went through the lively La Rambla street - enjoying the scene and (in the back of my mind) looking for an opportunity of kindness. But I couldn't find anything right away. It was mostly tourists and street vendors. comments (10) | email this | print | permalink Science Fiction, Kindness Non-Fiction--posted by Mark, on Nov 22, 2006
comments (8) | email this | print | permalink It's the little things that matter--posted by maliceyalice, on Dec 2, 2006 I was doing some volunteer work at a homeless shelter, and decided to document it with photography. I took shots of the residents which came out really well, but I also gave some of the residents a disposable camera. I then developed the film and printed them up. When I gave back the images, I had enlarged and framed the best photo, which was of a little girl. The man who took it was so happy because it was the first photo he'd ever owned of his daughter!His smile was the biggest smile I've ever seen in my life (even bigger than his daughters smile in the photo)! comments (9) | email this | print | permalink Your way, right away--posted by green, on Dec 6, 2006 The other day, I bought a homeless man lunch at Burger King and sat down and spoke with him while we ate our lunches. It seemed like he was almost as happy to chat with me as he was to have a free meal. comments (8) | email this | print | permalink City bills--posted by Teja, on Dec 8, 2006
Today I went to the city, having a bunch of appointments all over town. In my front coat pocket, I put 20 single dolar bills, a $20, a $10 & a $5, all folded separately and mixed up. Everytime anyone asked me for help, money, a donation to their cause, I would reach in my pocket and hand them whatever bill I touched first, not even looking myself. New York is a big, needy city, and by the end of the day as I headed to the train I felt in my pocket that there was only one bill left. I had to look and sure enough, it was the twenty. One block from the station, a woman was standing on a corner asking: "does anyone have anything to eat? Does anyone have any leftover food I could have?" Without hesitation, I gave her the last bill and rushed off to my train, but not before I heard her stunned words "Oh My God! Thank you, thank you, thank you...." comments (18) | email this | print | permalink Lost Wallet and six-hundred Dollars worth of Kindness--posted by dees67mustang, on Dec 20, 2006
comments (18) | email this | print | permalink Living on the Street--posted by strider, on Jan 16, 2007
comments (10) | email this | print | permalink Soulful Strut At MidDay--posted by keymaker, on Feb 22, 2007
comments (15) | email this | print | permalink People on the Corner--posted by Faye, on Feb 24, 2007 Many years ago my observant 7 year old was in our car on her way to school. This particular day we drove by many displaced/homeless people who were asking for help. She asked why the same people were asking for help everyday and why no one was helping. I really did not have an uncomplicated answer to this question. So I decided to ask her how she thought she could help. This beautiful little girl had so many ideas flowing out of her I couldn't keep up. There were a few good ideas flying past me just as the time ... comments (9) | email this | print | permalink We're All In This Together--posted by Jesstars, on Mar 11, 2007 I read a lot of spirit and intention books. I remember reading Wayne Dyer one night and in his Power of Intention book, he wrote something along the lines of if you can’t give a homeless person money, give him a smile. The other day I was waiting for the light to change in downtown San Francisco and there was a homeless guy who was walking around with his sign and he went from car to car (I was the 3rd one in). The cars reacted as they usually do, just closing the windows and ignoring him, one car moved up, you ... comments (12) | email this | print | permalink My First Experience With Smile Cards--posted by Hope4lisa, on Mar 25, 2007
comments (19) | email this | print | permalink We All Have A Story--posted by hiloecho, on Mar 31, 2007 Last weekend I volunteered at our local shelter to serve meals to the hungry. I convinced a classmate of mine, a woman who is older like myself to come along for the experience. Her life consists of school, playing golf as a semi-pro, and generally living a very comfortable and protected lifestyle. I assume everyone has seen the hungry, the needy, the homeless, the less fortuanate in our society but the assortment of folks at the shelter seemed to trouble my friend. She was aprehensive about getting physically too close when she was serving meals and she was also full ... comments (23) | email this | print | permalink The Crumpled Dollar--posted by Babygirl, on Apr 8, 2007
When I was working as a waitress at a small resturant by the highway, an older gentlemen came in to purchase a cup of coffee. I recognized him because he was the gentleman who lived under the bridge that was just down the street. When he came in, he placed a crumpled dollar on the counter and asked if that was enough. I told him it was plenty, went to get his coffee and handed him a menu at the same time. He looked at me confused and I told him to order what he wanted. After his meal and a to-go bag with a fresh cup of coffee, he smiled and left. But as I was cleaning up his place, I noticed the crumpled dollar on the counter. I stood there and cried because I knew this was probably all he had. I placed the crumpled one in my apron and pulled out a ten; I asked a friend to catch up with him and give him something from me. I never saw him again but his smile stays with me even today. comments (27) | email this | print | permalink Lady on the Pavement--posted by guin, on Apr 16, 2007 I was standing near a store window, waiting for my friend with whom I was supposed to find materials for our college assignment. I was waiting for quite long, when I noticed an old woman sitting in front of me. She looked very weak and poor and was rummaging through garbage cans looking for food. Since many people work as garbage collectors, I thought that maybe she was one such person and didn't want to degrade her self esteem by asking if she wanted any food. Our eyes met and I smiled at her. I don't know why, but she suddenly came to me and said that she was feeling very hungry and didn't have any money. It was evident that she wasnt a beggar but just that her circumstances were tough. I went to a store in the next street and bought her some food that she could eat immmediately, and a bunch of fruit that she could eat over the next few weeks. She looked very pleased and blessed me, making *me* feel very happy for a long time. comments (17) | email this | print | permalink The Beggar Poem--posted by philip1957, on May 21, 2007 On my way to work,my eyes wander to various sights There always sits a beggar man next to a shop He sits outstretching his arms I dig in my pocket to give him alms The beggar man is my everyday sight He gives me a smile that is just so right We are blessed with everything in life Yet we do not smile as if there is a strife The beggar has wealth nor health Yet the smile on his face is heartfelt For sometime the beggar man is seen nowhere I feel something missing, I look around and stare The shopkeeper tells me he died Silently I pause,he will no more be in my sight I will miss him,I do not know why Seeing him was a habit, I feel to cry The beggar man taught me to smile and to forget lifes worry awhile ***based on a true story comments (22) | email this | print | permalink In Debt To Strangers--posted by singlestep, on Mar 9, 2008
comments (18) | email this | print | permalink Joys of Picking Tamarind--posted by guin, on Jun 8, 2007
comments (13) | email this | print | permalink One Scary Man--posted by JLocoHead, on Jun 24, 2007 I know that the title is little curious. But the scary homeless man is even more curious. I have lived in Mayport Florida for about three years. Every day, leaving work, coming home and running errands, I pass this homeless man with two shopping baskets full of his treasures. Except for about 2-3 months of the year (and I'm not sure where he goes during that time), he is always around, never to be missed. Anyhow, the reason I call him a scary man is because my son and I are often together when we see this man and he's always talkin ... comments (16) | email this | print | permalink A Blazer, Red Scarf, and Fifty Bucks--posted by FP, on Jun 30, 2007
comments (52) | email this | print | permalink Ice Cream Versus The Beggar--posted by zidlore, on Jul 11, 2007
I started walking from school to our house when I was in 4th grade. By that time, my allowance was just 10 pesos (about 2 dimes) -- just enough for a tricycle fare (which is 5 pesos). comments (13) | email this | print | permalink
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A friend of mine in Chicago sent me an e-mail with her description of an uplifting event that she witnessed...
"And talking about beautiful...yesterday I was witness to such a heartwarming random act of kindness. It will forever be imprinted in my mind. I had to run downtown to help Bonnie out for a few hours (it was not part of my original plans for Monday). On my bus ride back to the train station, we were in gridlock traffic right by the opera house. As I stare out my window a handsome young man (25ish to 30ish) walks out of ... 
I have a five year old son and two 18 month old twins and especially at Christmas time I wanted them to truely understand what the act of giving was all about. So I made a list of people that were less likely to recieve gifts or love and let my five year old chose who we would give gifts to. 
Many people spend their New Year’s Eve, getting dressed up and dancing their way to midnight. We decided to do things a bit differently.
We filled a backpack with clothes, shoes and other goodies and headed out to the railway station. The first person we spotted was a 15-16 year old boy picking up discarded plastic bottles on the platform. We called him over and started up a conversation. We had a discrete look at his hands and noticed he had long fingernail. We explained that it was important to keep short nails (studies have shown that disease occurrence in the poor can be ... 
Saturday I was with my 8 year old son and we were in Boston at the Boston Commans. There was a manyelling out "spare change." He was a homeless man. 
My wife opens the doors and says, "Man, that lady must be having a really bad day. She was really rude." After a slight pause, she adds, "What she really needs is someone to tag her." "Well, let's do it!", I proposed in an excited tone. "Who is this lady anyhow? Any ideas of what she would like?"
Two minutes, later: Operation Mid-Day Chocolate to Lady Behind the Counter. I get a box of new chocolates from the refrigerator and think up a note to write about.
As my wife was walking to an errand earlier in the downtown area, ... 
Well.....I just couldnt WAIT to try out my smile cards.
Last week I set out on my nightly outing -- to a meeting, and then to spend some time with my best friend. I told him I wanted to use my smile cards. First stop, the Dollar Store. I bought 2 nice candle jars with thoughtful things written on them.
Next up, 7 Eleven. We parked and looked for someone to give a candle and card to. A woman had just gotten gas and was walking into the store. I hurriedly got ... 
There is a big tree in my house where several kilograms of tamarind are available during the right season.
Since tamarind is staple food for the South Indian diet, many poor people collect fallen tamarind fruit and dry it to preserve it for the next year. That way they don't need to buy it from the shops. Unlike other houses that have tamarind trees, my parents never shoo away the tamarind pickers from our house. In fact, several urchin children come to my house too and they happily collect the tasty fallen tamarind and nibble them like candy.
It's almost become a kind ... 
I have this college friend, Eric. One thing used and still does always intrigue me about him is how he deals with the poor.
We have a lot of poor homeless people that come walking around our neighborhood day in and day out, either collecting stuff from our trash to recycle or physically coming to the door to ask for anything. Walking to and from class you pass by at least 4-5 of them daily. Most of the time, the constant rush against time makes me pass by them without noticing, but Eric would always take the second (even if ... | Home | About Us | Our Friends | Get Involved | Contact us |  |  |  |