I would like to share a short story with you. In 2010, I coordinated a fundraiser for volunteers to serve low-income clients a catered lunch at a local church. A variety of door prizes and gift certificates were donated. Joe, one of the clients, and his two kids attended and he won a gift certificate for a free haircut for his daughter. While his daughter was getting her hair cut, Joe was sitting in the waiting area, and he kept thinking the hair stylist, Jamie, looked familiar. He said, “Ma’am, I think I know you from somewhere.” The hair stylist said, “No, I don’t think so.”
Now, let me take a moment to tell you a little bit more about Joe. He had been separated from his wife and lost his job. He wasn’t able to afford rent and had to send his children into foster care. He became homeless and had lived on the streets for many months, and he looked it. The sun and life on the streets were not favorable to Joe, and it was hard for the hair stylist to imagine knowing him.
However, Joe continued to believe that he had met Jamie somewhere before. Then he remembered. This woman had brought him a peanut butter and jelly sandwich one day while he was living under a bridge. He asked her “Did you ever bring sandwiches to homeless people.” As soon as he said that, she remembered. She and her husband had decided to make sack lunches for homeless people and deliver them after church on Sundays. They bought the supplies and made them on Saturdays, and went around the city after church to distribute the lunches. Over time though, she wondered if they were really making a difference. It was becoming a burden to buy the food, make the lunches and distribute them every week. She asked herself and God, “Are we really making a difference?” God answered her prayer when she donated a haircut for a door prize.
“Ma’am, you were a blessing and I remember you very well.” I was hungry and you fed me. I was beginning to wonder if anyone truly cared, and you showed up to give me a sandwich. That was the only meal I had that day, and you gave me strength to persevere. Since that time, I got a job, found a place to live, connected to other resources, and got my children back in my life. Now I get to thank you for what you did by bringing me a sandwich that day.”
What are you being called to do? Everyone can do something to help transform lives and their community. It might be as simple as making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and delivering it. Money & ME was created to help organizations who are inspired to help people with financial literacy. It is important to feed people who are hungry. However, instead of just “giving a person a fish, it is also important to teach a person how to fish.” If you know of an organization who would like to teach people financial literacy, connect them to Money & ME today!