Umbrellas and Gloves

I do a weekly volunteer job in the Skid Row section of Portland, Oregon, and last winter I began feeling a strong desire to reach out in some way to the homeless and destitute folks on the streets. I began noticing that many of these people walk around in the cold and wet without hats, gloves or umbrellas.

I believe I am genetically programmed to be a Jewish Mother (even though I'm a man). I want everyone I see to be warm, well-fed, and dry. So this really upset me.

I remembered that my wife and I had some extra umbrellas in our garage. And so, on my next rainy volunteer day, I put them in my car and kept my eye out for a few folks who might need one.

I spotted a down-and-out looking young couple hurrying down the street dragging a broken suitcase and plastic bags stuffed with their belongings. "I have an extra umbrella", I said, "could you use it?" They said they'd just lost one, thanked me, and hurried off. I handed another one to an older man in dirty clothes who was walking along dripping wet. And another to a sad-looking woman waiting for a bus.

I hoped an umbrella would help them be a little less uncomfortable, but I soon became aware that my deeper motivation was this: I wanted these people to see that a stranger noticed their struggles and cared about their well-being. And it felt good to make this connection.

So now I buy umbrellas on sale, and gloves too, and when the weather is rainy or cold I keep my eyes open for people on the streets who look like they could use a bit of kindness from a stranger.