Homeless Matter
Last week, I went out with a group of Gallo employees to help the homeless in Modesto, CA. For 3 weeks, Gallo employees collected items such as blankets, jackets, umbrellas, socks, hats, gloves and more. The amount of clothing they collected in just 3 short weeks was amazing. So powerful. Awesome.
So, together, we headed out on the town to find homeless men, women and children to distribute everything we collected. And, unfortunately, we found way more of them than we wished to see. Fortunately, though, we were well prepared and every single one of them got much-needed supplies.
For me, the offering of clothing and umbrellas was cool, but it wasn’t what stuck with me… now a week later. What I can’t get out of my head are the conversations I had with them… because they were just like me. They weren’t drunk, they weren’t on drugs… they were just real people who found themselves on hard times. Seems pretty common these days to me.
We talked about family, about work, about life on the streets. They were organized, had a plan. They even showed me the coupons they had clipped from the paper and how much they were looking forward to certain sales taking place around town. And, most of all, they seemed to be at peace. They were amongst friends and shared a common journey.
I walked away that night with such a sense of joy. Not because I have things they don’t have, but because quite the opposite. They literally brought joy to my life. They told me stories. Jokes. We laughed. They even invited me to church… in the park every other Sunday. And, I hate to admit, but it more meaningful conversation than I often have with my own friends.
So, next time you see a homeless person, don’t be too quick to judge. Instead, maybe take a second to strike up a conversation. Hear them out. Get to know them. And, maybe you will find… they are just like you too. Our homeless matter.
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3 Responses to “Homeless Matter”Speak Your Mind
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I was on this outing with the Gallo and Matthew. It was so humbling to be part of that evening, to be able to give some articles so needed by many and yet so taken for granted by the majority. I just continue to say to myself, there go I, but for the grace of God….
Matt,
Thank you so much for your help and efforts in coming to Modesto to help with my cause in helping the homeless. It was an amazing night and I agree with your message, they touched my heart and soul forever. To see them smiling and laughing when they are in the worst times of their lives should give us all hope….to never give up and to always look on the bright side of life. Being able to go out with my friends, co-workers and you that night to make a difference in our community and in lives….words just can’t describe it. I hope that everyone who reads this will choose to make that differnece in their own community and in the lives of others. I am a big believer in paying it forward!
Thank you & God Bless
Darline
Good Story Matt. I felt the same way about talking to the homeless people we helped a few weeks back. I had not looked at the Monday Mattered until that Monday and called Darelene to hear that they were going out Wednesday and she did not have much help or items.
So I made a flyer to put up in the Gallo Warehouse breakroom and dragged a barrel around to put another flyer on it. I put up on the window by the barrel that “Help is needed” “Need blankets”, “Warm clothes”, “Help the Homeless”. By Wednesday there were 8 bags of items. So many they could not all fit in the barrel but were piled up around the barrel.
Even people with jobs have had bad times so they all know what’s it like and just wanted to help. We have an awesome group here in the warehouse. This just proved it. We will help more in the future becasue they do matter to us. Sharen