Lenore
I ran into Lenore last week on my way to do my Wednesday service work at our church. Lenore was with a younger guy, and she was walking away from the church entrance, not toward it. Knowing that Lenore normally shows up on Wednesdays to get food and some help with her bills, I asked her if she would be coming by to see us.
Yes, I am, she replied, but she couldn’t make it today because she needed to ring the Salvation Army bell a few blocks away. She asked me if she could give a letter to our project manager tomorrow, and I said I’d tell the project manager to expect to hear from her.
Lenore and her escort slowly walked off toward her Salvation Army appointment. Over the last few days I’ve wondered how many people would postpone a chance for food or money to volunteer for someone else. At the very least, our church waiting room had coffee, pastries and heat. Lenore would be out in the cold, ringing her Salvation Army bell, imploring people to give their spare change to someone who needed it more than her.
Would you forego a necessity to help someone else? I know my answer, and I don’t like it.
Thanks, Lenore. You’ve inspired me more than you know.
Get out and give back.
Filed under: Donating, Giving, Humanity, In the Neighborhood