Lessons Learned from the Homeless
@DeborahDiane (40317)
Laguna Woods, California
July 9, 2016 10:06pm CST
My husband and I recently signed up through our church to help feed dinner once a month to the homeless people in Laguna Beach. We are both so happy that we are doing this. Not only has the experience been rewarding, but we learned a lot from it.
When we arrived, the people were very happy to see us. They showed us where to park and offered to carry the food inside for us. Let me mention here that the homeless in our area receive dinner every night, served by a variety of churches in the community, so our arrival was not unique.
The people were very quiet, orderly, pleasant and appreciative. There were about 70 people there and virtually all of them thanked us profusely. Several of them said, "God Bless You."
The people were patient with each other and helped each other out. There was one man in a wheelchair. The others stepped outside so that one of the other servers could make him a plate of food.
A few of the other people were very slow to fill their plates. No one complained and no one rushed them.
Some of the homeless did not come up to the table where we were serving. Others helped them, filling extra plates and serving food to them.
The people were pleasant, clean and most of them chatted with us. It was obvious that most of them take full advantage of the showers, as well as the washers and dryers at the shelter.
They ate their vegetables. One of the donors had made two huge pans of broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots, covered in cheese. The dish was very popular! They also ate the salad (which I made), baked beans and rolls ... and loved the fried chicken that our group bought.
I recognized some of them from my daily walks on the beach. Others, I had never noticed as being homeless before, perhaps because many of them were actually very well-dressed and well-spoken. You could tell that some of them were middle-class people with decent wardrobes who were down on their luck.
When we left, many of them thanked us again, profusely.
It was such a pleasant experience, we should have been thanking them. In one hour, we learned so much from them about gratitude and simple human kindness.
27 people like this
22 responses
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
21 Jul 16
@DeborahDiane You are so right. He went on to do for the nation what he started as Gov. of California. He was a terrible President, despite his adoring fans.
@DeborahDiane (40317)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Jul 16
I am glad to hear that there are very few homeless people in your area. We did not have so many in the United States until funding for mental health facilities was sharply reduced during the Reagan presidential administration. Since then, homeless people have been a common site in the United States.
3 people like this
@shivamani10 (11035)
• Hyderabad, India
10 Jul 16
You are doing an exemplary service. This is matchless service one can do together (both husband and wife). You might have experienced lot of pleasure in 'GIVING ' something to the other. This has got immense value and even a rich person possessing million million dollars will not have the opportunity of having this pleasure.
3 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40317)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Jul 16
@shivamani10 - You are so right. I was actually surprised at how much pleasure I received from helping the homeless.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40317)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Jul 16
I agree. It impresses me, sometimes, how much kinder and more generous many of the poor people are than the more affluent.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
11 Jul 16
this touched my heart, ms. d-d. the tears continue to run down my cheeks. i've found that folks who've the least're the most kind 'n gracious - not jest towards those that're tryin' to help 'em, but to those'n similar shoes's 'emselves. what'n honor to serve those folks, visit with 'em a bit. some're quick to judge our homeless, 'nstead'f seein' 'em's the lost souls many're.
i'm so glad y'all've a shelter where they've access to such essentials - does much to ones self-esteem to be clean 'n not judged fer the hiccups that life's left'em 't.
what a blessin' indeed. thanks to y'all who take that time 'n truly 'ppreciate the value'f those folks. big love 'n hugs!
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
11 Jul 16
@DeborahDiane yer welcome 'n big hugs!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40317)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Jul 16
Thank you @crazyhorseladycx - I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to do this.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40317)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Jul 16
I agree completely. I certainly believe that I received as much as I gave.
2 people like this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
10 Jul 16
Thank you.This post has warmed my heart.
You'll did a great job.And I find that I too learn a lot from people who I am helping out.
Thanks again.
3 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40317)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Jul 16
@responsiveme - I'm glad to hear that you, too, help those who are less fortunate. Together, we call make the world a better place.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
10 Jul 16
Blessings to you and your husband for helping out these people.
Hopefully, every major city in the world would have something similar. Homelessness is a global problem that can be addressed if we put our efforts into it.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
11 Jul 16
@DeborahDiane very true.
There's zero cost in being kind and definitely being kind is what we need the most right now.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40317)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Jul 16
@allen0187 - I would love it if every major city in the world had similar programs. Everyone deserves a safe place to sleep, a place to take a shower, a place to wash their clothes, and food to eat. It is the least we can do for one another.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40317)
• Laguna Woods, California
12 Jul 16
@allen0187 - I agree that the world needs as much kindness as possible right now!
1 person likes this
@carebear29 (31970)
• Wausau, Wisconsin
10 Jul 16
I used to be homeless and it's not a great feeling
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40317)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Jul 16
@carebear29 - I am sure it is not a great feeling to be homeless. Volunteering in the shelter made me realize that it could happen to almost anyone.
1 person likes this
@carebear29 (31970)
• Wausau, Wisconsin
11 Jul 16
@DeborahDiane Right. I know what you mean.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54187)
• Louisville, Kentucky
12 Jul 16
@DeborahDiane Yes, it really is and so very sad.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40317)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Jul 16
I thought about that when I saw polite, nicely dressed people standing in line for dinner. Whatever put them in that situation is truly tragic.
1 person likes this
@SHOHANA (16093)
• Bangladesh
11 Jul 16
@DeborahDiane those are fortunate to have you generous guys! huge blessings for those who helped the poor
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40317)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Jul 16
@SHOHANA - We were very fortunate to have this opportunity.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
12 Jul 16
What a wonderful feeling you and your husband must have doing such a terrific service. I'm sure all the homeless were very appreciative. We don't have any homeless where we live, but have given our time to fundraisers for those less fortunate. It is a wonderful feeling.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40317)
• Laguna Woods, California
14 Jul 16
Yes, fundraisers are another way to help those who are less fortunate ... and they do a lot of good. I have participated in many fundraisers in my life, too. I wish we didn't have homeless in Laguna Beach. It seems rather incongruous to see so many poor people in the midst of multi-million dollar homes. However, there are about 70 homeless in the area and I am pleased that they are provided with their basic needs.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40317)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Jul 16
@just4him - It was a wonderful experience and we feel very blessed to be part of this program.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317249)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
11 Jul 16
@DeborahDiane I'm sure you do. I've never done it, but I know some who have who said the same thing.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40317)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Jul 16
Yes, they certainly showed me how to be more grateful!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40317)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Jul 16
@Tr8600 - If everyone helped a little, it would make a huge difference. I also support having some of our taxes go to help people I will never see.
@GardenGerty (160909)
• United States
11 Jul 16
Very inspiring post. I think we should all be willing to serve one another.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40317)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Jul 16
@GardenGerty - I agree that we all should be willing to serve each other. Almost everyone needs help at one time or another.
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
11 Jul 16
That is so amazing-for you and them. When I was in youth group we would feed the homeless in New York City and it was also an amazing experience being able to help others.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40317)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Jul 16
@LovingMyBabies - I'm so glad that you helped feed the homeless in New York City. That is wonderful to hear.
@DeborahDiane (40317)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Jul 16
@jstory07 - It sounds like your experience was similar to ours ... that everyone thanked us. I agree that most of the people are just down on their luck. I'm amazed at how many people were homeless once. All the more reason to help these people get back on their feet. It is possible.
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
21 Jul 16
It is good that you are taking part in that. Laguna Beach homeless people are fortunate to have such caring people. The homeless are crowding the streets of Portland, Seattle, LA and many other cities.
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
10 Jul 16
This is lovely of you and your husband.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40317)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Jul 16
@ElizabethWallace - we feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to help the homeless in our area.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40317)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Jul 16
@rina110383 - We did it to help the poor ... but we were the ones who benefited the most.
1 person likes this