This week we sat beside homeless neighbours and elderly community members, shaking their hand, looking them in the eyes and staying with them until they were connected to the social assistance, services and stability they need. We made calls, filled out forms, arranged free laundry pickups, transportation to health appointments and more, partnering with caring community members to be their advocates when there were no shelter beds and exhaustion had set in. By remaining present until shoulders dropped, colour returned to faces and hope was restored, we became a bridge between “I don’t know what to do” and “I have a path and I’m not walking it alone,” creating a ripple of care that can change the world one life at a time.
This week, I looked into the eyes of the homeless and the elderly, shook their hand, and ensured them they are cared about and that I would stay with them until they received what they need. This was done in partnership with a few very caring community members who invited me in on their team effort to help.
I sat beside someone until I was done setting up their social assistance, made calls on their behalf, began setting them up for services and compassionately listened with my full attention. I told them I would remain in their life until they are connected to the support and stability they need. And I meant it. Those words were felt because they were true and although their words expressed that, the impact was noticeable without the words. True care is felt and that feeling alone can change a life.
I met someone who was homeless at a restaurant that someone offered space at in Toronto and they also offered their time to helping someone in need for quite a while. There are currently ZERO beds available for men in Toronto. But there is always a path to help and that is easier to find when in community. There are elderly with serious health needs and people sleeping outside because there are no beds available.
We became their advocate and someone sitting beside them with love until their shoulders dropped back down after their nervous system relaxed, the colour came back to their face, and some hope was restored. We sat with people while we made calls, filled out the forms and found the programs.
There are elderly who have not had laundry done in months and we set them up with regular free laundry pickups and drop offs that impact their daily lives. Connecting them with transportation services so they can get to their health appointments instead of falling through the cracks.
Sometimes the services are there, but people don’t know about them, can’t access a computer or transportation to a public printer. Sometimes they are too tired, too sick, too overwhelmed to deal with one more number, one more website, one more “no.” This is where caring community members come in.
“We can all in any small or large way become a bridge between ‘I don’t know what to do’ and ‘I have a path, and I’m not walking it alone.’”
Sometimes the biggest barrier is requiring to be held after complete exhaustion to reach the supports when it seems the only option is to give up. We stayed until the dead end turned into a door opening.
I believe that people will always feel the power of someone’s dedication and genuine unconditional love and care and that it hits a place in their heart that nothing else can. Especially when many choose to walk by. I also believe that’s a very powerful way to change the world. It impacts both people (or all involved) for life. And the person being helped is very likely to do the same thing for someone else once they are stable. The ripple continues. Every living soul is worth the time. Whether small or big, offering a bit of time or a lot of time, that’s how a deep and transformative difference can be made. And that’s powerful enough to change the world we live in one life at a time.