Reach Out

          I was watching this thing on the news the other day about a homeless shelter being built. The city had a vacant building and was thinking about turning it into a shelter since a church group had volunteered to fund the cleaning up of the building. In this city the homeless population had almost doubled and they had nowhere to go. Across the street there was a small market and the owner got on the news and stated that she hoped it didn't happen because it would scare her customers. She proceeded to say that most of them, her customers, were women and children and that she didn't want them stepping over cigarette butts and broken bottles. I sat for a moment somewhat in disbelief. I couldn't believe that someone let this woman on TV and that she had just really said that. Why is someone going through a tough time automatically a drunk. Does she really think that all the homeless people in the shelter are just going to sit outside drinking 40's and throwing bottles. I have never had to stay in a shelter but I am pretty sure that isn't how it works. The thing that makes me sad is so many people that are homeless right now just need a little help. They need a chance to rebuild and get a little support. Wouldn't that woman want some help if she had no place to go, nobody to turn to, no food to eat. We should be willing to treat each other the same way we would want to be treated in the situation. Reach your hand out to help someone because if you are ever in a place reaching out for help don't you hope someone is reaching back?