Periodically, my wife and kids and I will do things to help those in need. The goal is two fold. . . 1, to really give to those that have so little, and 2, selfishly, teach our children to be grateful for what they have and to realize how lucky they are.
Typically, our efforts are making 60 sandwiches and bagging them with chips, cookies, water, etc. They get dropped off at a shelter and then they magically get to the people who need them.
Well, last night, we went into the San Francisco, in the shadow of City Hall (all lit up in Red and Gold after the 49ers win), with sandwiches, water, oranges, blankets, socks, t-shirts, soaps and lotions to hand them directly to the folks that need them.
It was incredibly eye opening for me personally. Most of the people were so kind and so grateful, but most of all, fair. They only took what they "needed" and said things like "I already have a blanket, so I'll leave that for someone else".
I don't know, but I find that unselfishness incredible when each person is just trying to stay alive out there in the cold.
We live in the "me first" generation. . I see it with so many people that have so much, so to see the direct opposite with people who truly need, blew me away.
As a photographer, I had the notion to bring my camera to document this. Maybe I'm a bad photographer, but I just didn't feel that it was right to take images of these people as though they were part of a show, so I opted to leave the camera and home. The only photo I took was with my iPhone of the beautiful lights lighting up City Hall.
Believe me, there are MANY more people out there who do TONS more than me to help others (as a matter of fact, what we did is nothing by comparison to real true samaritan ) , but I hope it taught my children a fraction of what it taught me last night.
