We all have done it. We have all walked right past and averted our gaze, sometimes pretending to talk on our phone, sometimes pretending to dig in our purse or bag, sometimes pretending to not even notice. This is how they received the moniker "The Invisible Community." Of course, I am talking about the homeless.
On Wednesday, we received a firsthand experience of this. We volunteered at an organization called Street Sense, which produces newspapers, written by the homeless containing news on current issues and topics. The paper is produced every two weeks. Vendors (homeless people who choose to work to earn money) purchase the paper for 35 cents from Street Sense and in turn sell the paper for $1. The profit is kept by the vendor and used to purchase more papers the next day, food for the day and shelter for the night. Vendors stand on a street corner and sell the paper to passer-bys. Most people ignore the vendors and walk right past, assuming they are dirty street people.
On Wednesday, we became vendors for the morning. We paired with Michael, a gentleman who is currently down on his luck, but has a plan on how to rise above his situation. During rush hour traffic, he normally sells the paper. In the afternoon, he buys and sells water outside. The money he makes that day helps put a roof over his head and food in his stomach. For two hours, our group stood on four different corners selling Street Sense. Many people walked right past, never even glancing at us. Some people pretended to talk on their phone, or crossed to the other side of the street so they did not have to engage us, or found a reason to not notice us. Some people looked us in the eye but kept walking without a word. Some acknowledged us with a brief head nod or even a kind word. Some even engaged us in conversation about what we were doing and why.
After two hours of selling newspapers, we only sold roughly 20 papers. In two hours. As profit, we only made $13 for Michael. We talked about how we would survive if we only have $13 to spend on the necessities for the entire day. It was a tough conversation. Thankfully, by the grace of God, many people gave a donation to us and did not want to take a paper from us. In total, we were able to give Michael $228 (including a very generous man who gave a $100 bill to one of our youth). Michael was beside himself. He had enough money for the day and told us he was going to put some of it aside to help put a deposit down on an apartment. He was many days or even months away from that dream, but with God's help, we moved him in the right direction.
We experienced firsthand what happens when we are ignored, when people intentionally walk right past us and do not engage us at all. On Tuesday evening, we had a discussion with two current homeless people who are trying their best to earn enough for a place to call their own. Andre, a very passionate and energetic man, told us the most hurtful thing in his day is not being acknowledged as a human.
The biggest thing we learned from Tuesday's seminar and Wednesday's experience was to speak, say "Hello," and smile to the homeless we see. This is something we will forever hold with us. We are all God's children and we all need other human interaction.
