JulieAloha

April 11, 2017

One of my resolutions this year was to find some small way to help at least one person each month who needs assistance. Today I met Jesse. I saw him while I was walking at lunchtime, he was bundled in blankets lying down against a building, and before him was a cardboard sign that read, “anything helps.”

So I stopped and extended my hand and said, “Hi, I’m Julie. Are you okay?” He looked up and saw my hand, looked at me and slowly reached out to shake my hand and quietly told me his name. I bent to hear him better and asked him again if he were okay. He dropped his eyes and said he didn’t know, but he was hungry. I asked him what he needed. He said he’d take anything; I asked him to stay there until I returned, went into a store and got him a sandwich, two bottles of water, some beef jerky, an apple and some granola bars. He teared up, thanking me again and again, I had tears streaming down my face. I recommended a few places locally where he might be able to get help and shook his hand again before heading back to work.

I may never see him again, but I will never forget him either.

Homeless man

by CA Guilfoyle Jul 2012

I tried to quickly pass
in order to avoid the wreckage
You were shipwrecked outside a grocery store
washed up, delivered by a sudden squall

You sat atop a dirty crumpled duffle
I met your sullen, soulful eyes
they spoke harsh truths, not denied
I gave you groceries, you reached for my hand,
thinking me your mother, your sister, a friend

Leaving I turned to see your face
my heart dropped anchor,
sunk by such weight