A young woman named Carmen was at a California restaurant recently enjoying some chicken strips. In fact, the restaurant itself is well-known for their delicious chicken strips. As she ate her meal, a homeless woman entered the restaurant and went from one customer to another, asking if she could have any leftovers that they might throw in the trash.
It was heartbreaking to see that not one person was willing to help this homeless woman and many of the customers simply ignored her.
Carmen was with her boyfriend and told him that if she saw the woman before they left the restaurant, she could have her leftovers. Carmen describes the scene:
“As I was gonna throw away my one leftover chicken strip and like five fries, I heard a very quiet voice ask me if I had anything left. I turned around and it was her,”
She kept true to her promise but somehow, it didn’t seem like enough.
“I debated posting this picture but considering that today many of us are gonna be thankful for what we have and are gonna be spending it with those we love, eating very yummy food, I changed my mind. I didn’t know my boyfriend had captured this moment.
A couple of days ago, we went to eat late at night at Raising Cane’s, and as we waited for our order, I saw this homeless lady walk in asking people that were throwing away their leftovers if she could have them. Not one person said yes, they all ignored her and threw it away, it broke my heart. I have been volunteering with the homeless now for many years… they don’t repulse me or make me sick to my stomach. I hold them all with so much love.”
“So I told Fred if I see her before we are done eating, I will give her my food. I looked for her as we were getting ready to leave and couldn’t find her. I felt sad knowing all the rejection she had that night searching for a warm meal.
As I was gonna throw away my one leftover chicken strip and like five fries, I heard a very quiet voice ask me if I had anything left. I turned around and it was her. l gave her my food and watched her sit and eat it… but something didn’t feel right. I felt like a horrible human being feeding her my leftover chicken strip… she deserved so much more… so I bought her a whole meal… she deserved to eat a hot meal.”
“When I ordered the meal, I asked the employee for a huge favor to please do not kick her out as we waited. I could already see the disgust on people’s faces as she sat at the table eating the leftovers I had given her… news flash, people, not all homeless people smell like roses.”
“She was getting ready to get up and leave when I surprised her with this meal… the look on her face said it all. I have never felt something like this… pure, real gratitude.
That hug she gave me was like a hug I had never felt… those tears she shed were felt deep in my heart. I held her tight and let her let it out. I wasn’t repulsed by it. I just held her. And that is a moment I will never ever forget. So next time you judge a homeless person, think twice… not all of them are homeless because of a drug addiction or because they are lazy.”
What Carmen did is beyond being kind. We can’t help but applaud her efforts for caring for people, regardless of who they are.
(Images: Facebook)
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