Bought a homeless guy a beer..
In Newport, RI, one evening, I saw two sailors pouring liquor down the throat of a homeless man from a flask. Literally, holding the mans head up and mouth open and pouring it down his throat. Thankfully, a police officer came buy just at that moment.
When I see homeless man and women, I will stop and buy them a sandwich and a cup of coffee or direct the to our local ministry where they can shower and wash their clothes for free.
I hope that on those occasions when my alcoholic/addict stepson is homeless, someone would feed him...not buy him a beer.
When I see homeless man and women, I will stop and buy them a sandwich and a cup of coffee or direct the to our local ministry where they can shower and wash their clothes for free.
I hope that on those occasions when my alcoholic/addict stepson is homeless, someone would feed him...not buy him a beer.
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I think inviting him to a meeting sounds like a really nice idea. I think a lot of people in tough situations really appreciate company and having people treat them as human, remembering that is is not only basic needs that matter in order to feel good and worthy.
I think I have mentioned the group of refugees I have befriended and try to help. I do things like buy them food, take them clothes, buy diapers and toys for the kids, flu shots, things like that. But I know what they appear to appreciate the most is the time and companionship I put in. I go with them to help interpret at important appointments with the lawyers who we have found to help them with their asylum application, at the local government offices to get their paperwork straight, at the hospital when they were giving birth, I have attended birthday parties and baptisms.
I helped fix up their home which they were much appreciative of. When my mom sent over some money to help with supplies we went on a shopping spree at Ikea, I encouraged the lady of the house to get some "frivolous" stuff to treat herself- a throw pillow, a couple of picture frames, a candle. She had a really hard time making that decision to spend some of her money that way but was really happy when she got home and had something "non-essential" to just enjoy for the sake of enjoying of it.
the most special things we have spent together have just been hanging out like normal people. I took one of the ladies and her baby to my beach club for the day. She loved it! She of course had seen the mediterranean, on her tragic and horrific voyage over (I'll spare you the details, but trust me...) but her baby had not and we had a wonderful day playing in the sea and the pool, having lunch on the beach, etc. Another time me and a friend bought all the ladies in the group tickets to see Mary J. Blige and Erykah Badu and a local summer music festival. We had a girls night out and had a blast!
All of this to say, people definitely need to have their essential needs met first, but sometimes, just doing something splurge-like and special, particularly when it involves giving your time to spend time with them, is really what touches people and lifts their spirits.
I think offering to take him to a meeting and then treating him to a lunch would be a fabulous idea. But even if he won't go to a meeting, if you really feel touched by him, an offer for a decent meal, in a restaurant, treated like a human being, would be a very nice offer.
I think I have mentioned the group of refugees I have befriended and try to help. I do things like buy them food, take them clothes, buy diapers and toys for the kids, flu shots, things like that. But I know what they appear to appreciate the most is the time and companionship I put in. I go with them to help interpret at important appointments with the lawyers who we have found to help them with their asylum application, at the local government offices to get their paperwork straight, at the hospital when they were giving birth, I have attended birthday parties and baptisms.
I helped fix up their home which they were much appreciative of. When my mom sent over some money to help with supplies we went on a shopping spree at Ikea, I encouraged the lady of the house to get some "frivolous" stuff to treat herself- a throw pillow, a couple of picture frames, a candle. She had a really hard time making that decision to spend some of her money that way but was really happy when she got home and had something "non-essential" to just enjoy for the sake of enjoying of it.
the most special things we have spent together have just been hanging out like normal people. I took one of the ladies and her baby to my beach club for the day. She loved it! She of course had seen the mediterranean, on her tragic and horrific voyage over (I'll spare you the details, but trust me...) but her baby had not and we had a wonderful day playing in the sea and the pool, having lunch on the beach, etc. Another time me and a friend bought all the ladies in the group tickets to see Mary J. Blige and Erykah Badu and a local summer music festival. We had a girls night out and had a blast!
All of this to say, people definitely need to have their essential needs met first, but sometimes, just doing something splurge-like and special, particularly when it involves giving your time to spend time with them, is really what touches people and lifts their spirits.
I think offering to take him to a meeting and then treating him to a lunch would be a fabulous idea. But even if he won't go to a meeting, if you really feel touched by him, an offer for a decent meal, in a restaurant, treated like a human being, would be a very nice offer.
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That would form the basis for me and my guys to beat the hell outta two sailors. just saying. That's straight assault!
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Anyways..I've decided I'm going to go by the store tomorrow around the same time that he's been there and ask him; "Do you want help?" If he says no..that's fine,but I'm going to put it out there. By no means am I taking this guy "in",but I can at least talk to him a bit more. I would really like to know his story. How he got where he's at?..Ect..? I'm curious and could 'maybe help a guy?'..although..I was a bit discouraged when he assumed I bought him a beer,when I didn't even look at him..that was WEIRD.
Just talk. It's a hell of a lot more than they usually get.
You have to remember that a lot of homeless have serious mental illness issues with or without substance abuse. Goes back to the early 80s when the powers that be decided to close a bunch of mental institutions and "re-street" a number of the patients through halfway houses and work programs.
Most of the time it didn't work, the institutions were closed and they had nowhere to go.
You have to remember that a lot of homeless have serious mental illness issues with or without substance abuse. Goes back to the early 80s when the powers that be decided to close a bunch of mental institutions and "re-street" a number of the patients through halfway houses and work programs.
Most of the time it didn't work, the institutions were closed and they had nowhere to go.
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