A couple months ago, two of my students: Camille Lore and Kelly Moore invited me to help them with something very special. They wanted me to go out with them around the downtown Madison (WI) and delivery soup, clothes and some comfort to the local homeless population. I can say that initiative somehow changed me...If you live in a big city anywhere in the world you most likely have seen a homeless individual walking around or just laying down in a public bench or even on the ground. Have you ever done anything to help??? Usually the answer would be no...until that night, was mine too. Here is the thing: First time that I follow them around was the transition between winter and spring in Wisconsin and normally the temperature would go from -10 degrees Celsius to 15 if I`m not mistaking and you see people sleeping in freezing concrete ground with sometimes no blanket, nothing!!!!!! Some "lucky" ones got sleeping bags and other things that would help a little but overall, it is a unreal feeling...Several times I told Camille and Kelly that I`m not sure if I would be able to go through this situation, life, condition or whatever you prefer to call if I had to. I had some similar situation about three years ago but not even close...Going out week after week, I started to understand more about homeless and why this sad reality occurs. Obviously no one lives in the streets because enjoys it. A lot of these people (99.99%) had some severe life experience and traumas that hit them so bad that forced them to go this direction...Walking around downtown, as you feed people, you listen stories and learn about life! I got impressed with some of them due the level of intelligence and culture! Obviously in the other hand you experience the even worse part of this reality that involves alcohol, drugs and violence (by all kinds). I know what you want to ask now...Why those homeless people don`t get a job? It`s just convenience to be on the streets and having people feel sorry for you...Not really! Think about this: When you decide to look for a job and etc, you go on your computer (or maybe mom and dad`s one) download an application, call, set up an appointment and go.......Right? Right. Simple. Now think about a homeless doing the same thing? No computer (or at least much harder access to one), no phone (device and contact number), no transportation (assuming the job location can be anywhere in the city or even out of it) and plus....you want to look sharp for a job interview, right? Of course! You brush your teeth, use the floss, take a nice shower (if not a bath), wear a nice cologne or perfume, shoes, pants, t-shirt and etc, etc, etc...over all you want to cause a good impression on your possible future boss. My question is: Can a homeless individual do all the simple actions that were just described above? Let`s say they even could....how often? Think about this article very well because I realized through Camille, Kelly and all those unfortunate citizens that Life can harder than you think...life can change faster than you think, I finally understood that one of the greatest tools we have is the power to help others! without judgments or expecting something back. The Night Runners are a group of people that basically exist in order to ensure that people won`t no longer feel neglected by destiny or any type of Government support...I got one last question for whoever will be reading this article... Remember when I mention on the beginning when some homeless sleep in a freezing concrete? Ok, now would you be ble to imagine yourself trying to fall asleep by a building, outside in a -25 degrees Celsius weather with wind and only a blanket?
TH.BLASO
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Night-Run/208934502593862 (Night Run Facebook page)
Support this initiative! Helping others is one of the most powerful tools you can possibly imagine...
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