Eyes Wide Open

It all started with a local news story. Watching people right here in Columbus, Ohio live in tent cities on the Scioto River made the homeless crisis real to me. It actually hit home for the first time. Before seeing this I always thought that it was something that happened outside of my normal realm, and life. I couldn't ignore it anymore, so I decided to do something. I'm a 28-year old young professional, what could I possibly do?

At first it was just a onetime thing. A few announcements, a small collection and a drop off, that's all nothing more. Then I met Abdu. I was attempting to make my third clothing drop at J.O.I.N, a Catholic sponsored project, when a respectably dressed African immigrant approached my car. "Oh boy, what now?" I thought."Do you know if dat building 'es a sheltuer" His broken English trembled with humility as he asked."I really don't think it is.; my reply seemed to break his heart. "But hold on a sec, I'll find a place for you." I pulled out my blackberry and found a phone number to call at the local Y.M.C.A. The voice on the other line gave me the address of a local shelter that could probably take him in for the night. She warned me about letting him into my car, and wished me luck.

What can I say; I took a chance and gave him a ride. Now I have to also tell you that I was not able to deliver those clothes, as I had arrived late and J.O.I.N. was closed. So I had about 32 bags of clothes to deliver with nowhere to take them. So I asked Abdu if he could use any clothes. "Sure, I need clothes to stay warm." He replied. I pulled up to the shelter and we got out so that he could look at my inventory of donations in the back of my Jeep. I opened the back and about three bags fell out. As we were going through all of the clothes I glanced behind me. There were about 20 people waiting for the shelter to open, all watching Abdu and I sorting through these clothes. I guess that's probably when the humanity finally hit me. I was changed at the sight of the need on the people's faces that stared back at me. At that moment I acted.

"Hey, over there! You need some clothes too? C'mon over! I got enough for everybody! Take whatever you want! It's all for you guys!" I yelled with excitement and the crowd got thick in what seemed like an instant. Abdu started to help in the distribution of the clothes and found in the bags what individuals needed. For that day, in that moment he had something that he hadn't had in months, he had a purpose and so did I. What was planted in me that day was a seed of compassion that has now taken over my life and I have been forever changed.