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 An Unusual Birthday Celebration--posted by JZ, on Jul 24, 2007
comments (10) | email this | print | permalink Dare to Care--posted by David Servan-Schreiber, on Sep 7, 2007
comments (19) | email this | print | permalink The Seed Has A Sprout--posted by justoneheart, on Sep 18, 2007 I am a single mother of a darling 6 year old girl, Haley. With a six year old come a lot of questions! Who is that? What are they doing? Why? Where...and on and on. I love her questions! Sometimes I do not have an answer, sometimes we brainstorm the possibilities of what may be together. Children are very, very observant and have excellent memories! One example that comes to mind is right around Christmas last year. We were heading out to her Grandma's house -- an hour drive, so lots of time for chatting! We were waiting to get ... comments (23) | email this | print | permalink Taking Off My Shoes--posted by guin, on Aug 13, 2008 Today was a rainy day and I was walking down the street feeling blessed. I felt like doing something kind for someone else, almost as if I was trying to spread the abundance of love I was receiving. I suddenly saw this teenage girl dressed in tattered clothes, getting soaked and without any footwear. She was making her way through the dirty garbage and sewers, trying to pick something that would be of use. I immediately told her to wait for me there as I ran home to get her something. Spontaneously, I took off my shoes, which I really love, wrapped ... comments (39) | email this | print | permalink An Angel and a Pepsi--posted by marebear, on Oct 25, 2007 I was not employed at the time and I was getting help from the government by getting food stamps. One day, I was walking to the store when I noticed a little man sitting on a bench across from the store. I walked past him but could not stop thinking about him. I turned around and went up to him and asked him if he was ok. He said no. He said he hadn't eaten in 2 days. I told him, "Dont worry, I'll be right back." I turned back again and asked him what he would like. He said it ... comments (31) | email this | print | permalink Like The Flowing River!--posted by bearhug, on Dec 4, 2007
[ One of my favorite stories from Paulo Coelho’s 'Like the Flowing River', in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro.] comments (15) | email this | print | permalink $100 Pay-it-forward Award--posted by IZZY, on Dec 10, 2007 I recently received a $100 pay-it-forward award from Karma Kitchen, where I volunteer occasionally. It's a gift-economy restaurant where everyone pays what they want, for the person after them. On nights when more money is received, it is distributed as pay-it-forward awards from which we have to do something good in our community. So on Labor Day, I invited my two friends -- Hafeez and Mita -- to Berkeley to put $100 to good use. I placed the order at Southside Bongo Burger, but then restaurant owner called me back. "You want what? $100 worth of Burgers?" the owner queried me ... comments (8) | email this | print | permalink My Hour On the Streets of New York--posted by Adam, on Jan 30, 2008
comments (151) | email this | print | permalink Garden Of Blessings--posted by wayfarer, on Apr 20, 2008 There’s a park that runs through the centre of Edinburgh. Sitting beneath Edinburgh Castle, the Princes Street Gardens are full of families, sunbathers and, of course, ice cream stands on sunny days. The weekend my wife and I spent in Edinburgh was scorching. We had an amazing time, seeing the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and being entertained by street performers along the Royal Mile, all rehearsing their acts for the Edinburgh Festival of the Arts. Well, all good things must come to an end. So, we packed our bags and left the hotel. The gardens were empty at this time of day ... comments (19) | email this | print | permalink From the Bottom of My Heart...--posted by MakeSomeoneSmile, on May 5, 2008 Today has been a great kindness day for me. I brought an extra banana on my drive into the office and gave it to the homeless man at the corner. I bought coffee for the hurried woman in front of me, who smiled and had a little bit better day if only for a few moments. I sent 5 thank you notes to people who have done simple things for me in the past few days. And my daughter and I made smile rocks and sent them to a special friend in need. How does this pertain to you? Because ... comments (33) | email this | print | permalink Generosity of a Homeless Man--posted by Nellybelly, on May 17, 2008 I used to work at a warehouse that was down the street from a homeless shelter. It was right next door to a little gas station where they made breakfast sandwiches daily and I would walk over before my shift started and get a sandwich and a coke every morning. There was always someone or the other standing around outside asking for money to get something to eat. As a single mother I rarely had money to spare but sometimes I would give them my change until I noticed most of them would go inside and buy a beer with ... comments (30) | email this | print | permalink Yogi on the Go--posted by yogionthego, on May 16, 2008
comments (37) | email this | print | permalink I'll Give Him My Teddy Bear--posted by wayfarer, on May 25, 2008 Nearly thirty years ago I was a trainee engineer based in Liverpool. I was hundreds of miles from home, but I had a nice place to live, wasn't overworked, had a good bunch of friends and plenty of money in my pocket. One Saturday morning I decided to walk into Liverpool city centre and buy myself something. I didn't need anything, I was just going to spend some money! The walk was about four miles and took me through Toxteth, an area which two years later would erupt into rioting, largely because of the poverty of the place. I stopped into a ... comments (10) | email this | print | permalink An Unforgettable Breakfast at McDonalds--posted by tracey, on Jun 28, 2009
comments (60) | email this | print | permalink An Empty Wallet and a Full Heart--posted by cabbage, on Jul 3, 2008
comments (18) | email this | print | permalink Dad, Can I Do That Again?--posted by Richard, on Jul 11, 2008
comments (16) | email this | print | permalink Paid in Full with One Glass Of Milk--posted by sabrina, on Jul 19, 2008
comments (16) | email this | print | permalink The Battle For Change--posted by Raqui, on Jul 30, 2008
comments (21) | email this | print | permalink A Gas Station Gift I Couldn't Afford--posted by bubbie, on Jul 23, 2011 Just recently, there was a man standing near the islands in the gas station when I pulled in. I had recognized him from before, when I saw him trying to cross 4 lanes of traffic with crutches. He still had his crutches with him. When I got out of the car he politely asked me if he could pump my gas. I said, no thank you and continued on. I started to notice he asked other people the same question, and I realized he was doing it for money, but he wasn't getting any. As I looked at him, he ... comments (40) | email this | print | permalink A Smile Knows No Language Barriers--posted by mouse, on Aug 21, 2008
comments (17) | email this | print | permalink Losing My Fear of Having Enough--posted by nflowers1228, on Sep 13, 2008 I was moved after reading a story on this site about Adam's day in New York. I commented how it's so easy for me to spend $1.50 on soda every day (or more!), but when I walk by homeless people, somehow I fear that if I start to give them money, I won't have enough. Well today, somehow that fear was lifted. This was not planned, but I had put $3 in my pocket this morning for sodas (it's Friday after all :-) and never got to the place where I buy them. Then, as I was walking to the ... comments (21) | email this | print | permalink All I Did Was Smile--posted by dewolfe, on Oct 3, 2008 One day I was going home and jumped on the LRT (train). There was one seat compartment that was empty except for a 'dirty' run down looking man obviously coming down off of something. Although there were two empty seats across from him, and one beside him, and the train was jam packed, no one would sit there. Me, being me, waltzed into the train car, sat directly across from him, looked him in the eye and smiled. The look of shock, shame and amazment on his face is a look I will never forget. He was obviously shocked that someone ... comments (29) | email this | print | permalink A Pocketful of Hope--posted by cassiemeadows, on Sep 29, 2008 Here's a quick reminder to all of you when you get stuck in a moment --- that, somewhere out there, someone always comes along with a pocket full of hope. Today I spent all my coins and dollar bills on little deeds. I had skipped breakfast because the clock was ticking away too quickly. On top of the mad rush, I forgot my lunch. I was going to buy my lunch along the way, but a person in need asked me if I could spare them some cash, so I decided that moment, to put them first. So, then later, that evening, I was heading home anxiously awaiting dinner, when I got a call from my Mom saying that she was ... comments (22) | email this | print | permalink The Old Man on the Highway--posted by SpiritualWoman, on Nov 4, 2008
comments (26) | email this | print | permalink A Timeless Gift--posted by ClarityTru, on Nov 11, 2008
comments (22) | email this | print | permalink A Man Named Lawrence--posted by Madeline F., on Oct 31, 2008
comments (15) | email this | print | permalink A Lesson in Dignity--posted by jaydeebug, on Dec 21, 2008 Everyday as I drove through town, I saw a one-legged man going through ash cans for cigerette butts and trash cans outside of fast food restaurants looking for food. It was only a month before Christmas, starting to get cold (I lived in a town that was over 6,000 ft. altitude) and I could not quit thinking about him. It was a year where we didn't have enough money to really have much in the way of presents but I figured what was too little for us would be a lot for someone who had nothing. So I bought a brush, ... comments (12) | email this | print | permalink Three Words of Wisdom: "Don't We All?"--posted by jaydeebug, on Jan 1, 2009
comments (62) | email this | print | permalink Walking Away with an Open Heart--posted by ktt1701, on Jan 27, 2009
comments (89) | email this | print | permalink The Wisdom of Old Ted--posted by jimpa, on Jan 23, 2009 I placed Ted's ashes in the ocean and watched as they made a rainbow before dissolving into the sea. In my hand was an envelope with my name on it. I reflected on my friendship with Old Ted, over the past two years prior to his death. It was a sunny mid-day in Tucson. I had been attending a teaching and we were on lunch break. I was the first to arrive at the Furrs restaurant. I was getting out of my car when I saw him. An elderly man in his eighties, thin, tall, and walked with the gait of ... comments (36) | email this | print | permalink
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[An Invitation From 2004]
It's that time of the year again. Yup, V-real's birthday ... this Friday, January 9th. As you probably know, V-real isn't much into celebration of particular days more than others. But we have a creative way to bend the rules for his 25th.
First of all, can you make it to our house this Friday at 7:30PM? I know it's really short notice but hey. ;)
Secondly, in the spirit of thankfulness for your friendship with V-real, would you be willing to do an act of random kindness for someone, somewhere, somehow? Then, on his birthday, we'll ... 
Originally posted in Ode Magazine
It's Saturday night in the Paris métro. Two friends, Etienne and Sophie, are on their way to dinner. After sitting down in the crowded train, they discover the body of a homeless man curled up at their feet. How did he get there? How long has he been lying there? Is he dead? They look around: Everyone avoids looking at the body. Nobody has any idea how to handle this situation. Etienne and Sophie don’t know what to do either.
In a study done in the 1970s, young Christian seminarians were assigned to teach a course on ... 
On Nov 11 of 2006, I made a deal with myself that I would give $1 to every homeless person who asked. Call it a moment of clarity or whatever, but I woke up from a rough night of partying in Vegas and just felt like this model of taking wasn't working for me anymore.
Still, to be honest, I embarked on this experiment thinking that I would just bleed money, that there would be 20 or so homeless people a day coming up to me in NYC and that I would run out of money soon.
This never happened.
When I ... 
I struggle with money in that I don't have a lot of it. I hate how we are so dependent on it and yet we need it in order to survive - we need to pay rent, buy food, etc. It's a daily struggle, but we all have to do it.
Before I went back to school I was living in Toronto as a waitress and yoga teacher and was making some decent money. My partner and I decided to start taking 10 per cent of our tips from waiting tables and giving it to people in need. I have numerous ... 
This was a story I wanted to share with you, from a woman who helps the homeless.
I am a mother of three and have recently completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology. The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with. Her last project of the term was called, 'Smile.' The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions. I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway. So, I thought this ... 
Today while driving to the grocery store we saw a woman standing with a sign "Family fallen on tough times" by the side of the road.
Usually we give the person some food or fruit that we have with us or a bottle of water.
Frantically rooting around for a snack, my son and I could not find anything in our bag and by that time the light had changed. I said out loud, "I only have a $20 bill in my wallet. Too bad, because usually I would give away dollar bills if I had any." I told my son that we ... 
Let me tell you another story. It’s not a mythic story; it refers to a real event, which I attach great importance to, which was told to me when I was teaching a class at a business school in Mexico.
I was teaching a class in business ethics, and we were dealing with the question, What is a good human being? Can you be a successful businessman and also be a morally good man or woman at the same time, or do these two goals work against each other? Or to what extent do they coincide and to what extent ... 
One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However,he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door.
Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it so slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?" "You don't owe me anything," she replied. ... 
Every day I pass by a homeless man on the street near where I attend college. He tells me 'hello' in a cheerful manner, and I always say it back. I give him any extra change I have.
He always wears a watch. Not an expensive watch by any means, but it serves its purpose. One day I noticed he wasn't wearing it anymore. I asked him why and he looked down and told me that the battery had died so he threw it away. I knew he couldn't afford a new battery and he certainly couldn't afford a new watch.
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