if i’m honest, i just want the light to turn green. i get uncomfortable. like the kind of discomfort that brings on sweaty palms and a twitchy eye. i try not to make eye contact but on the rare chance i do, i immediately divert my eyes. it’s as if somewhere down deep i believe that poverty is contagious. and then i have this internal dialogue that goes something like: i should carry cash more often, maybe i should stop at mcdonalds, has she really tried to get a job, this is the longest red light ever, is it rude to give him change from my console, i wonder if he thinks that i think i’m better than him. wait a minute, do i think i’m better than him? i should do something. but more times than i’d like to admit, i do nothing. i’m ashamed at how often i turn my head and so i decided to change that.
on my list of february goals, #11 was to make snack bags. that way, when i see someone who is asking for money/food i can just reach behind me and easily grab a bag to hand out the window. i understand that with so many people hurting and in need today this is a very small gesture. but it’s a step, albeit a baby step. it was really simple and very inexpensive and so i thought i’d share.
sunflower seeds: 2/$1.00
peanuts: 2/$1.00
peanut butter crackers: $1.72 for a pack of 6
blueberry muffins: $2.33 pack of 6
nutty bars: $1.25 pack of 6 (now that’s just plain robbery)
6 pack of tissues: $1.49
6 pack of bottled water: $2.79
i made 6 bags at roughly $2.00/bag which i think is pretty darn good.
(i had the brown bags, tags and rope already in my craft supply closet.)
i grabbed these homemade tags (homemade by my crafty sister, stephanie) and stamped them with the words 'a little something'
and now when i pull up to a light, i hope it's red so i can hand out just 'a little something'.
would love to hear your ideas on ways to serve and love the people in our community!
by jen
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