We delivered essential items to a man starting over after losing his partner to an overdose, surviving homelessness and finally securing a new job and home with almost nothing but a pillowcase to carry his food. Standing together in the rain sharing stories, encouragement and a desire to join the good deeds movement turned a simple delivery into genuine belonging, showing how community love and donations can help someone move from receiving support to wanting to pass that hope on to others.
Today a man put out his hand towards me and I put out mine. What happened after changed my life. I shook hands with someone incredibly inspiring as I dropped off essential items to their new place. They lost their partner to an overdose, due to needing to heal they lost everything, they got through being homeless by themselves, they found it in themselves to keep going and now they just got a new job and a place to live but don’t have a thing yet and are trying to start a new life.
I didn’t have bags today for food deliveries and they brought out their pillow case (the only thing they had) which sparked a conversation. We ended up standing in the rain outside the truck I delivered their items in for half an hour and we didn’t even notice it was raining. The focus was on the stories and on each other. We spoke from our hearts and we listened with full interest. They gave me inspiration to keep the good deeds going, and I added some hope and encouragement for them to keep going on their journey, and we both gave each other genuine connection, and shared humanity. One of the best gifts there is.
They asked me if they could be part of the goods deeds movement to give them community, positivity and a boost to keep going. I said absolutely.
“Belonging and being part of something positive is what shifts everything for a person. For us all. It’s a basic human need.”
It has become clear that the items for them and many others recently are just a part of what was needed. And that’s the point isn’t it. Belonging and being part of something positive is what shifts everything for a person. For us all. It’s a basic human need. They went from receiving, to feeling a sense of true belonging, wanting to continue being part of that, to wanting to offer it to others because it’s helped them. When that happens, it means a life was truly affected. And that’s the point. That’s how we make a difference one life at a time and change the world. Not just for one person. But for us all.
A special thank you to the community for donations, community love and positivity and to the Lakeshore Corridor Community Team for their donation that allowed this to happen tonight.