Reid, age 32 (Carlsbad, CA)

Published: May 26, 2009

I used to be homeless and maybe I will be again, but right now I have a place to live, and I’m thankful for that. Now I make up little care packages and give them out to folks in the streets. What I do is get together stuff I get from my church. A lot of it is donations. I bag it up along with food. Backpacks are one thing I try to get, as many as I can. Combs, toothpaste, socks especially, a Bible, anything at all. And I make sandwiches. I’ll put in an apple or an orange, whatever I have. I give the bags out to people in the park or in alleys. I share a meal with them and a little conversation as well. I try to pick out the neediest people I can find. I had an inspiration to do this after I was homeless then got straight and moved back in with my Mom. I’m in the 12-step program now. I want to give something back. There’s a word for it, I can’t think of it, a contribution that doesn’t cost anybody much of anything. Paltry contribution, I think. I’m not sure. Anyway, that’s what I do. I can’t get everybody off the street, but I can make some people’s lives a little easier.

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