Helping Others Helped Me
From homeless to hopefulness
About 2 months ago, I was walking through the busy streets of Vancouver, where the hustle and bustle often makes it easy to overlook the struggles of others. On that particular day, I heard a boy crying and I looked around when I noticed a family sitting together on a sidewalk, their faces worn with hardship. A mother, a father and their two young children huddled together, trying to find comfort in each other. I could hear the boy exhausted and hungry in the heat. His parents kept reassuring him, “Be patient, we’ll get something soon.”
Their words struck me hard. Few years back, I had faced a similar situation feeling lost and alone. I couldn’t just walk away; rather, I decided to help. I walked into a nearby store and bought some water bottles, pop drinks, bread, buns, snacks and some chocolates for the kids. When I returned, I introduced myself and asked how I could help.
The parents shared their story with me. They had lost their jobs and their home and unable to keep up with the rising costs of living. It was heartbreaking to hear how quickly life could change for anyone. I asked to accompany me to the nearest organization that provided resources such as groceries, clothings and etc. They said yes and on the way we had some McDonalds.
