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4:51am July 20, 2014

I made someone’s day today and it was great.

karalianne:

After writing meet I went to Sobeys because I wanted to see if they had proper ginger ale (the kind that’s really gingery and spicy). I figured I’d stop at the bank machine in the foyer first and get some cash, then wander a bit and see what attracted me, then buy things and then head home.

I got out of my car and was approached by a woman who was obviously missing a number of her teeth.

“Do you have any change or anything? I’m hungry and need food. My cheque didn’t come yet and I want to get a hamburger and some fries.”

I had no cash, just my debit card, but as I said I had a plan to go into the store and get some cash. “I don’t have any cash on me right now, but I’m going into the store and I’m getting some cash out of the machine. I want to get something to eat too.”

“I can wait,” she said.

“Okay,” I replied, and headed into the store to do my thing. As I went I decided I would give her whatever bill I got in change that was under $20. I found the ginger ale I was hoping for, decided I wanted a Caramilk bar and needed a jar of baby dill pickles with garlic, and paid cash - just over $9.00. So I got a $10 bill and some change back.

I came out of the store, half expecting the woman to be gone. My experience is that if the request for help is not legitimate, the person you’ve agreed to help will be gone when you return with whatever you said you’d provide. That’s why I offer to help with something that I’m going to do anyway, like the time I was getting breakfast at McDonald’s and got a coffee even though I don’t like it because a homeless man outside wanted a coffee. (I would have given him change but I only had my debit card on me, as per usual. I did give him my hashbrowns along with the coffee.)

As I crossed the parking lot, I saw her two stalls away from my car, leaning against the shopping cart corral thing. So I changed course and walked over to her. I was carrying the $10 bill in my hand.

“Here you go,” I said, holding out the bill. Canadian $10 bills are purple, and she looked up and saw the colour of the bill and her face brightened considerably.

She said, “Really?!?” and took it and gave me a hug. I think she said thank you too but I don’t remember.

I said, “I wanted to make sure you could get something good.”

“I’m going to get a burger and fries and gravy,” she replied, “At [restaurant]. They have a special.”

I smiled and said that sounded great and she headed off toward the nearby restaurant and I got in my car and came home.

I’m sure she thought she was going to have to ask a ton of people to get enough to buy dinner, and I’m sure what I gave her was enough for a little extra. Maybe dessert, maybe breakfast or lunch tomorrow too. It doesn’t really matter. What matters is that she got to have dinner tonight and it was probably really good.

I hope her cheque comes on Monday.

Hunger is awful, I’m glad she had food.  The end of the month can be awful… lots of people in my building (all senior/disabled) go hungry at the end of the month, to the point we have our own food pantry for donated food, because so many people have to use it.  I’m glad you were able to get that person a meal.