"Pay It Forward"
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 45,128
Likes: 4,040
From: Arlington, VA
This reminds me of a really stupid ruling in Fairfax County a couple of weeks ago that only county-approved kitchens could supply meals for the homeless, thereby ruling out churches, home cooking and the like. They said the homeless could be poisoned. 
Well, the uproar was huge, and the county backed off after about one day.
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,323
Likes: 233
From: Mid-Atlantic
Jerry, I'm really glad you did that.
Another Day In Paradise
By Phil Collins
She calls out to the man on the street
"Sir, can you help me?
It's cold and I've nowhere to sleep,
Is there somewhere you can tell me?"
He walks on, doesn't look back
He pretends he can't hear her
Starts to whistle as he crosses the street
Seems embarrassed to be there
Oh think twice, it's another day for
You and me in paradise
Oh think twice, it's just another day for you,
You and me in paradise
She calls out to the man on the street
He can see she's been crying
She's got blisters on the soles of her feet
Can't walk but she's trying
Oh think twice...
Oh lord, is there nothing more anybody can do
Oh lord, there must be something you can say
You can tell from the lines on her face
You can see that she's been there
Probably been moved on from every place
'Cos she didn't fit in there
Oh think twice...
Another Day In Paradise
By Phil Collins
She calls out to the man on the street
"Sir, can you help me?
It's cold and I've nowhere to sleep,
Is there somewhere you can tell me?"
He walks on, doesn't look back
He pretends he can't hear her
Starts to whistle as he crosses the street
Seems embarrassed to be there
Oh think twice, it's another day for
You and me in paradise
Oh think twice, it's just another day for you,
You and me in paradise
She calls out to the man on the street
He can see she's been crying
She's got blisters on the soles of her feet
Can't walk but she's trying
Oh think twice...
Oh lord, is there nothing more anybody can do
Oh lord, there must be something you can say
You can tell from the lines on her face
You can see that she's been there
Probably been moved on from every place
'Cos she didn't fit in there
Oh think twice...
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,464
Likes: 0
From: Leominster MA
Originally Posted by paS2K,Dec 15 2006, 08:05 AM
"Real Life" update:
After my Habitat for Humanity board meeting last night, there were a couple dozen mini-sub sandwiches leftover. The cleaning crew might eat a couple, but most would be thrown out.
Emboldened by this thread, I took the tray and decided to stop at the park across from the Philly main library on the Parkway. I knew that a few homeless folks hang out there. I pulled up about 8:30 pm and ....whoa.....there must have been 50 guys milling about? Danger for a white guy in a suit? What to do?
I took a deep breath; grabbed the tray and headed to the middle of the crowd. There was already a homeless aid person there, so I just set down the tray and moved towards the shiny suburban Prius. I was humbled by the voices behind me saying "Thank you. God bless. Merry Christmas".
I just go into my car and sat there for a while. The brief experience gave me something to ponder during my drive back to the safe haven of the suburbs.
After my Habitat for Humanity board meeting last night, there were a couple dozen mini-sub sandwiches leftover. The cleaning crew might eat a couple, but most would be thrown out.
Emboldened by this thread, I took the tray and decided to stop at the park across from the Philly main library on the Parkway. I knew that a few homeless folks hang out there. I pulled up about 8:30 pm and ....whoa.....there must have been 50 guys milling about? Danger for a white guy in a suit? What to do?
I took a deep breath; grabbed the tray and headed to the middle of the crowd. There was already a homeless aid person there, so I just set down the tray and moved towards the shiny suburban Prius. I was humbled by the voices behind me saying "Thank you. God bless. Merry Christmas".
I just go into my car and sat there for a while. The brief experience gave me something to ponder during my drive back to the safe haven of the suburbs.
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 33,155
Likes: 1,638
From: Randolph, NJ
Originally Posted by paS2K,Dec 15 2006, 11:05 AM
Emboldened by this thread, I took the tray and decided to stop at the park across from the Philly main library on the Parkway. I knew that a few homeless folks hang out there. I pulled up about 8:30 pm and ....whoa.....there must have been 50 guys milling about? Danger for a white guy in a suit? What to do?
I took a deep breath; grabbed the tray and headed to the middle of the crowd. There was already a homeless aid person there, so I just set down the tray and moved towards the shiny suburban Prius. I was humbled by the voices behind me saying "Thank you. God bless. Merry Christmas".
I just go into my car and sat there for a while. The brief experience gave me something to ponder during my drive back to the safe haven of the suburbs.
I took a deep breath; grabbed the tray and headed to the middle of the crowd. There was already a homeless aid person there, so I just set down the tray and moved towards the shiny suburban Prius. I was humbled by the voices behind me saying "Thank you. God bless. Merry Christmas".
I just go into my car and sat there for a while. The brief experience gave me something to ponder during my drive back to the safe haven of the suburbs.
This the perfect example of "Pay me forward" and a fine act on your part.
The praise that you received in this thread was the good deed that inspired you to not pay back but rather pay forward by taking the energy from that good deed and bringing it forward to others in need.
You did it because you wanted to do it, and it came from your heart and your soul. You did it because you wanted to do it, not because you had to answer to anyone.
This is what charity, at its highest form, is about.
Good for you Jerry, this is a fine example.
There was never really any "danger to the white guy in the suit". There really never is when you do good things. There is only the much deserved warm feeling that you get inside from knowing that you made a difference. And from knowing that it came from your heart.
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,674
Likes: 10
From: Myrtle Beach, SC
Originally Posted by Lainey8484,Dec 15 2006, 08:02 PM
But I'd also bet that had this subject matter not been brought up just a week ago by Jerry's mens' group, and a challenge issued, the realization that the food was going to be wasted may not have crossed Jerry's mind so quickly.
No matter what prompted it, it was a good deed, indeed, Jerry.
which is why I applaud this thread and the action of the mens group.
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 18,885
Likes: 33
From: Philly (Narberth)
Originally Posted by valentine,Dec 13 2006, 12:39 PM
I'll be waiting for a full report. 
{{{hugs}}}
{{{hugs}}}
Mens Group Report- Saturday, December 16, 2006 @ 7 amWell, it's interesting that all 10 of Jack's legion showed up this morning (the entire group is about 14). Everyone was generally anxious to discuss their adventures; only one was obviously less sure about all of this. Jack began the discussion by apologizing to anyone who felt pressured to 'report back', and told everyone it was fine to NOT give any report. For full disclosure, I also revealed my posting here on s2ki.com.....and told them about the spirited discussion. I'll roll out the comments a couple at a time....if people are still interested:
1. Bill S- Engineer- He's our droll 'Scotsman' with a taste for single-malt Scotch. He matched the $50 and gave $100 to his favorite charity over the years, Heifer International project. This org provides cattle and chickens to low income folks in many countries....encouraging them to become self-sufficient....a boot-strap operation. He felt good about doing this extra effort, and also told his children about it.
2. Gordon W- Family Physician (ret'd)- Gordon is our group's 'Marcus Welby'....always has a smile and very involved in church's programs for others.
Gordon took his $50 to a HS reunion planning meeting this past week. The high sch class (Upper Darby '50) has built up a fairly large treasury, but with no 'plan' to share these funds. He matched the 50, and also offered to match any other contribution by those on the committee. As this moves forward, a scholarship will be set up (benefiting local kids in this struggling older 'burb) under the Upper Darby Fund (local foundation)....named for their HS class.