Nasty Lady

[ailbhe]

As we went into the supermarket today we passed a man sitting on a cardboard box on the ice, looking cold and dirty, with a blanket over his knees, begging. I got the kids into the warm and said "The first thing we do is we give that man some money." A woman popped up behind me and said "You shouldn't, he's smoking, if he can afford to smoke -"

I don't know what else she said because I got angry. I babbled something about knowing what it's like out there, and that people DIE of being poor and homeless. She went away. I gave the man some money. He was pathetically grateful.

And every time I saw her as we went around the shop I was a little bit frightened.

Who can look at a homeless person in this weather and not have the slightest bit of compassion? Who?

Comments

Homelessness

[(Anonymous)]

In Leeds we have St George's Crypt which will ALWAYS provide food and shelter for any homeless person. I went to a talk given by a lovely man who helps to run it - he said that if you're worried that giving money will encourage booze or fags, then give homeless people in Leeds directions to the Crypt where they will always give them a hot meal and a bed for the night - and hurrah for that! If I have time, I'd tend to give food: if I don't I will give money, especially in this weather. Daphne