I looked out the kitchen window, me safe and snug in my
\nwarm house, and I saw a boot.<\/p>\n
A single boot.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A gray rubber boot.<\/p>\n
Next to it, a foot wrapped with plastic.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s our view of the Little Yellow Free Pantry from the
\nkitchen window \u2013 we see guests from the knees down.\u00a0 The pantry covers the rest of their bodies
\nand their faces, which sometimes leaves us to guess who the visitor might be.<\/p>\n
\u201cDavid, look.\u00a0 \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n They stood at the pantry looking at their choices.\u00a0 <\/span>They were one of few people brave enough to \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Yet there they were.\u00a0 \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n I bundled up in my coat and went out to greet them to see \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cDo you need BOOTS??\u201d I blurted without even thinking if \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u00a0 <\/span>Yeah.\u00a0 <\/span>I could only find ONE,\u201d they said, pointing \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n One boot, not insulated.\u00a0 \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cWhat size are you?\u201d I asked, hoping that we might have a \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n They told me their size, and I asked what other winter \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n First \u2013 boots.\u00a0 <\/span>I was \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n As I was turning to rush back upstairs, I saw a shoe box\u2026<\/p>\n \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n I opened it and found a BRAND-NEW pair of beautiful, warm \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n I carried everything out to the porch and found the guest \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cI found a sock,\u201d they told me.<\/p>\n \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cHey, I brought you 2 pairs of warm socks!\u00a0 <\/span>Here!\u201d I said as I handed them over.<\/p>\n \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The coat was received with gratitude.\u00a0 <\/span>I demonstrated how the hat had a liner inside \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cAnd hold on a minute \u2013 I have some boots that might \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Their eyes lit up when they saw the beautiful new winter boots, \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cThese are the size you asked for.\u00a0 <\/span>I think they will fit your good foot, but I am \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n I asked what other food they might need that they hadn\u2019t \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n This person could be me.<\/p>\n \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n They appear to be about my age.<\/p>\n They are always clean.<\/p>\n They are quiet and polite.<\/p>\n They told me once that they had a house or apartment, if I They seem smart.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t appear to have a mental illness.<\/p>\n They just, as they told me one time, \u201cHave had a hard \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n This person could be you.\u00a0 \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n It could so easily be any of us.<\/p>\n \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Broken foot covered in plastic.\u00a0 <\/span>Walking on ice.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Living in their vehicle.<\/p>\n \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n I can\u2019t imagine how cold that must be.\u00a0 <\/span>Sure, they can turn on the motor sometimes \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n I came inside and cried. <\/p>\n \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n This work warms my soul and breaks my heart at the same \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Thank you to all who support Kindness Activist.\u00a0 <\/span>Because of your generosity, we persist.<\/p>\n \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Thank you to whoever donated those fantastic warm boots.<\/p>\n Thank you to those who brought over coats and scarves and Thank you to people who bring over or order food to help Thank you to those who donated fancy gowns and jewelry Thank you to neighbors who show up at our events.\u00a0 <\/span>Neighbors who pay to get their nails painted \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n And thank you to the amazing people who donate money.\u00a0 <\/span>The funds you so graciously give keep us \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Soul warming.<\/p>\n Heart breaking.<\/p>\n \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n It is possible for both of those to exist simultaneously.<\/p>\n \n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n P.S. \u2013 A word on donations:<\/p>\n – Monetary donations are tax deductible and can be made
\n<\/span>Their foot is wrapped in plastic\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\nget out in the cold today and come for supplies.\u00a0 <\/span>And the ICE \u2013 the sidewalks are slippery and
\nsome have not been shoveled.<\/p>\n
\n<\/span>One foot in a rain boot.\u00a0 <\/span>One foot
\nin plastic.<\/p>\n
\nwhat else they might need.\u00a0 <\/span>When I could
\nsee more than their feet, I recognized them immediately.\u00a0 <\/span>It was one of our guests who lives in their
\ncar.<\/p>\n
\nthe question might be disrespectful.<\/p>\n
\nto their rainboot.\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd this other foot
\nis broken\u2026\u00a0 <\/span>It is in a tennis shoe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n<\/span>One broken foot.\u00a0 <\/span>A tennis shoe
\nwrapped in plastic.<\/p>\n
\npair of warm boots for them.<\/p>\n
\nthings they might need.\u00a0 <\/span>I made a mental
\nlist, asked them to please wait for me, and ran downstairs to see what we had.<\/p>\n
\nso disappointed to see the only boots left are kids and smaller adult
\nones.\u00a0 <\/span>That made me sad, but I started
\ncollecting the other items.\u00a0 <\/span>Big fluffy
\ndown coat \u2013 check.\u00a0 <\/span>Warm socks \u2013 check.\u00a0 <\/span>Warm hat \u2013 check.\u00a0 <\/span>Hand warmers \u2013 check.\u00a0 <\/span>Gloves \u2013 check.<\/p>\n
\nboots that were the right size.\u00a0 <\/span>Yes!<\/p>\n
\nhunting for a sock.\u00a0 <\/span>They had found one
\non our porch (leftover from yesterday \u2013 it had been covered in ice), and were
\nhunting for the mate.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjwYJDgYazgUjdTthzx7rMAYW7vGDYmaooHsupiXpQPsZi83gO7mvtJW4-dV3xhysz58nzfT0dzl4VcA2MJZuOLerin6_5YKIaNmMTFZSlehbP_vGtscITJlRUtv9HrK_TnvZMulkdMRtORKzDCcjl4JY_4rhPJAvlKl0nbNWJQ3lYlm6bN1FwEbsmI4uQZ\/s5184\/DSC06910.JPG\")
<\/a><\/div>\n
\nto make it even warmer.\u00a0 <\/span>They looked through
\nthe basket of mittens and chose the work gloves plus a pair of large mittens
\ndesigned to be worn over gloves.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nwork, too!\u00a0 <\/span>I will grab them,\u201d I told the
\nvisitor.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n
\ntags still attached.<\/p>\n
\nnot sure about the broken one.\u00a0 <\/span>How about
\nyou take them and try them?\u00a0 <\/span>If they
\nwork, great.\u00a0 <\/span>If not, please bring them
\nback for someone else.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nfound in the pantry, but they said they had enough.\u00a0 <\/span>Really, I think they were probably
\noverwhelmed with all of the winter gear and didn\u2019t want to ask for more.<\/p>\n
\nremember right, they had a fire and lost everything.<\/p>\n
\ncouple of years\u201d.<\/p>\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
\nand run the heat, but I bet that is not often.\u00a0
\n<\/span>Can\u2019t waste fuel that might be needed to actually go somewhere.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n
\ntime.<\/p>\n
\nother winter gear.<\/p>\n
\nus keep the pantry filled.<\/p>\n
\nfor the Fancy Outfit Library so that neighbors can borrow them.<\/p>\n
\nby our young helpers, who stand in line to buy a cup of cocoa from June Bug,
\nwho shop at our fundraisers and online auctions, who buy plants at the plant
\nsales and get photos taken at the kindness photo days.<\/p>\n
\nalive.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n
\nvia PayPal, Venmo, or check.\u00a0 <\/span>Any amount
\nis greatly appreciated and will be used to spread kindness.\u00a0 <\/span>Donation info can be found here:\u00a0 <\/span>Donations \u2013 KindnessActivist<\/a><\/p>\n