#Socktober

Several weeks ago, I saw Kid President make the request to collect socks and other much appreciated items for the homeless in our communities. I immediately said to myself, “We have to do something.” In that moment I put into motion, Frassati Society’s own Socktober for the month of October. I didn’t know how well this BIG idea would be perceived but I felt like something so easy should be attempted. Although our Sock and Toiletry drive didn’t bring in busloads of materials, we did manage to collect enough items to make approximately 30 bags which we would then turn around and handout to the homeless men and women in our very own community: Tallahassee, FL.

I took on another BIG idea after we completed making the bags….I volunteered to handout approximately 9 bags which I didn’t think would be that challenging. At first I had a difficult time finding people to hand the bags out to. In my own reflection I noticed that when I have seen people in need of help I have not always been able to give, but equipped with supplies I literally had to search for people needing help. I didn’t mind though because I knew I was going to make someone’s day. Even if they may not be able to use everything in the bag, I figured that I at least I could gave them a few minutes of my time to show them I cared.

My first encounter felt a little strange because I was prepared to help, not just helping someone by chance. I pulled up to a gentleman sitting on the corner near Walmart and proceeded to ask him if he could use some help. He assured me, saying, “Oh No, I am just waiting for my friend.” I let him know that I was a part of a Young Adult Group here in Tallahassee and that I was handing out bags of socks and toiletries to those in need and then proceeded to ask him if he could use one. The young guy looked at me saying, “Well I’m not home….pausing for a moment….but I do I have a friend that could really use a pair of socks right now.” I smiled and told the gentleman that he could gladly have a bag and then drove away not knowing if the bag was really for him or a friend. That evening I reflected on that short period of time and realized that I might have helped in a bigger way. If you are not familiar with the book, Paying it Forward, I highly recommend you buy it. While communicating with the gentleman I told him, “Thank you for helping me to help those in need!”

Several days went by and I couldn’t find a single person to hand out a bag to and started thinking that I made an even BIGGER mistake assuming the responsibility of handing out all of those bags. However, on my way home from my orchestra concert I saw two men standing on opposite sides of the road both holding signs and looking for help….any kind of help. I motioned to the first guy to come to the car and asked him if he could use some help. Making the same introduction I used previously I handed him a bag explaining the items inside. The look on his face melted and he smiled at me and said, “Thank you. Anything helps!” I smiled and then said to him noticing both his sign and shirt said Veteran on them, “Happy Veteran’s Day,” I said and then shook his hand. He smiled back and quietly said, “God bless you” and walked away.

Many of you probably are thinking, “He probably isn’t a Veteran, but looking for help especially on this Veteran’s Day weekend.” But guess what? I am not hear to cast judgments on anybody; I leave that for the Man upstairs. 

After watching the gentleman walk away, I slowly moved my car over to the other lane so that I could help the other gentleman out. When I made eye-contact with him he had this look as if he were thinking, “She isn’t possibly going to help me.” When he saw that I was coming over, he looked relieved. This guy looked older, feebler, and more worn out than then other two I had already helped. I approached him with a warm smile and again asked him if he needed any assistance. Again I told him who I was and that I was helping out people in need. I handed him a bag and he said, “Thank you sister” and he too shook my hand. It didn’t really dawn on me until after I drove away that I just embraced two complete strangers and became Christ in that moment. I am not boasting and in fact I am very humbled by these first three experiences because I felt so moved that I have become a ‘handmaiden for the Lord’. This guy particularly moved me because when he called me “Sister” I realized that yes we are all sisters and brothers in Christ and that I was his “Sister.”

After not having to anyone to give the bags to I felt blessed to have found both guys on my drive home. As I was turning to leave the previous gentleman, I noticed a young guy carrying a hiking backpack and walking along North Monroe. I doubled back and met up with him, being careful of course. He walked over to my car and, like so many times before, I introduced myself. He appeared happy and unsure of what to think of my gesture, and then said, “You know I am on my way into some woods and there are four of us there.” I said, “Oh then you could definitely use more than one bag. Let me get you a few more to take with you.” I handed him four full bags complete with a granola bar, socks, soap, lotion, toothpaste, and a toothbrush.

It felt so great helping so many people in a short period of time. I still have two more bags to hand out and I know that it too will be memorable and will teach me humility and grace as I help someone in need. In the words of Kid President, “Be AWESOME to someone today and make a difference.”

God Bless,
Elizabeth