Encounter at a Trash Bin

--by caroline2, posted Sep 27, 2012

My 25 year old daughter had just purchased a home in San Diego, near San Diego State University, and I wasn't too fond of the neighborhood at night.

We pulled into a gas station near her home around 8 PM. I was sitting in the passenger seat of her SUV, and noticed an old guy with a white beard taking trash out of the cans on the gas island. He picked out a smoothie container, half full, held it up to the light, and took a swig. He shuddered, and then put the lid on it and popped it in his bag. He repeated the procedure with a bottle of Sprite.

I looked away, embarrassed for him that he didn't care who was watching (although he couldn't see me through the window) and so sad for him and for all of us, that we could let this happen in such an affluent society. I wanted to give him money, but he hadn't asked and I was afraid it would insult him.

Just then, my daughter poked her head in the car and said, "Mom, can I borrow some money? I'll pay you back".

I knew why.

I handed her a $20 (all I had in my wallet) and she handed it to him. He looked at her and said thanks, then looked down at the bill and tried to hand it back, thinking she'd given the 20 by mistake.

When she refused it, he looked in pleadingly at me, and with tears in my throat I said, " No, it’s for you. Bless you," feeling heartbroken that I couldn’t do more for him, and ashamed for all of us that this beautiful, dignified, 80-something bearded man was reduced to eating from a gas station trash bin.

I hope the money was a blessing for him. His blessing to my daughter and me-- the opportunity to give from our hearts and to be grateful for all we have-- was without price.

7245 Reads

Posted by caroline2
Sep 27, 2012
Comments (23)

Readers Comments

starryskies wrote: Good for you and your daughter for reaching out to another with compassion. Thank you for your generous and kind heart! :)

moral12 wrote: Bless you and your daughter for taking the time to care about that elderly gentleman. I agree with your sentiments, too, about how could this happen in our "affluent" society.

denisemj wrote: How considerate to take time for a stranger in need. God will bless you and your daughter for planting a seed of kindness in his life.
Thanks for sharing! :)

cf wrote: Here in Germany, (4th richest country worldwide if judged by GDP in 2011) many people are starting to pick trash cans for bottles and cans and newspapers and cigarette butts... I can't remember having seen that four or five years ago. There's something seriously wrong with a society if that happens, in my mind at least. Thanks for sharing, thanks for caring.

Sydney wrote: It is so sad when people are in such a difficult situation, particularly when they are old...

MakeSomeoneSmile wrote: What a nice thing for you both to do. How proud you must be of your daughter's kind heart. Bless you both for your kindness! :)

eve wrote: How this could happen in a country like ours is just a disgrace. I don't know what we can do except help where and when we can. After katrina, most of the charties were found corupt. It was the church groups and individuals that came in and helped.

Franji wrote: I love the way children just cross that barrier without hesitation and teach us such wonderful acts of giving from the heart. Thank you for sharing this story.

Jami2D wrote: I am the younger generation but i too sometimes hesitate in a situation where i should just jump in and help, in fear of feeling awkward because they had not asked for help. But what a beautiful world this would be if we all just shared what we had plenty of so people didn't have to ask/beg or go without. We all have something to give even if it isn't money, right? Thank you and you must be a proud mom and you should be because your child learned to be kind from a good example and i bet that somebody was probably you.

thaata wrote: It is sad to note that elderly people are forced into such poverty and that too in affluent societies. God bless you both.

Stories of Kindness from Around the World