Homeless In The Parking Lot

by Meg Colby
(Albuquerque, NM USA)

Random acts of kindness and homeless in the parking lot. Last Christmas I became part of a group of women in Albuquerque, NM who became the sole support for two women and their children found sleeping in their car in the parking lot of one of our local big box stores.

Both of the young women were ill. They came to Albuquerque from rural New Mexico where they thought they could get the medical care they needed. They had no money, no home, no jobs and no real skills.

There just didn't seem to be any question about what to do. One of our friends became the organizer for the project. We collected money, clothing, food, found an apartment for them, got them connected with social organizations who could help them and eventually got them jobs.

They are now on their own, doing well and on the way to becoming contributing members of society.

We all felt we had done something really good. Each of us was free to donate in the way that felt the best.

Some gave money. Some gave time. Some gave personal care. No one felt compelled to do anything except help in whatever way felt the best to them.

And one of the really neat things that happened after they were on their feet is that they heard about us helping another woman in similar circumstances. And they offered all the information they had been given and had gathered on their own to her so she wouldn't have to do all the work they had already done.

NOTE FROM EDITOR OF POWER OF GIVING

Meg,

This story is beautiful and truly inspirational. You and others changed the lives of those women forever.

The women, in turn paying it forward, gave back where they could.

This is one of the most powerful random acts of kindness stories I've received here at the power of giving.

Thank you so much for sharing.

Connie
Editor
Power of Giving