So I wanted to share my 2 minute experience from after work this evening. I was coming from a work out, passing through the eaton centre on my way to the subway when a homeless person approached me. I'll be the first to admit that normally when a homeless person approaches me, I usually say sorry and keep walking but it was different this time. This person was a distressed looking female in tattered clothes and looked like she was about to have a serious breakdown. I was on the phone at the time so I told the person to hold on. The homeless person was asking me for money. Normally when this happens I don't give out money in fear that they may use it for drugs, alcohol or cigarettes- everything but food which is what I would want it used for. So she came out and said I need 50 cents. I paused. She is like I don't want to sleep outside and I need to call a shelter, as she pointed to the pay phone. In my head at this point, I'm thinking here is 25 cents you can go make the phone call. At this point she tells me that 25 cents is not enough. She took me over to the pay phone and I put in the money (25 cents) and much to my surprise the phone said credit 25 cents please deposit another 25 cents. The pay phone cost 50 cents!!! She pulled out the sheet of paper with the number to the shelter, and I dialed the numbers as she looked like she couldn't manage. She got in touch with them and at that point I took off. For the record, I'm not writing this because I want to hear what a cool thing I did. Instead I'm simply writing this because it needs to be said!
On my long ride home in the subway, my head was filled with many thoughts. Since when did pay phones start costing 50 cents!?!?! I guess Bell Canada wasn't making enough money when they were charging 25 cents so now they are charging the ludicrous price of 50 cents per call. How in the world is this person supposed to afford a phone call for help or is the expectation that she will never have to call anybody at all?!? Or maybe she is just supposed to call 911 anytime she needs something?!?!? I couldn't help but think to myself underneath this persons dirty clothes is a human being who needs help and is unable to contact the help she needs without begging for it.
This reminded me of the small things we take for granted. Things such as cell phones, family to call during emergencies, or even having spare change in your pocket for that one time you may really need it.
My point is this; something has gone horribly wrong in society and I couldn't help but feel a bit pissed off riding home in the subway. What happened to the society where we took care of people; every individual regardless of their gender, ethnicity or social status!?!? Something has changed, and it seems that this is no longer a priority. My challenge to the government and individuals is this: if you can afford resources such as time, money and people ensuring that big businesses survive the past economic downtown you can certainly afford to start taking care of the individuals in our society again, especially those that seem to need it the most. Positive energy feeds off of itself, and your giving will likely have a lasting impact of the other person/people.
** further note- I'm working on constructing a new blog in which i'll be able to create a better environment... thanks!**
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