I learned the importance of donating small amounts of money to individuals struggling with homelessness from my dear old friend Larry. Larry and I had spent a portion of our youth selling and doing drugs together, and we went to the same treatment center within one year of each other.
One day, when we were both still very new to recovery, we were driving somewhere in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, when without warning Larry veered the car over to the side, put it into park, and hopped out. He was back within two minutes, and I immediately asked him what the heck he was up to.
He replied that every time he drives downtown, he stops and gifts a person on the street a couple of dollars. He does so, he said, simply because he can, and because it feels good.
Up until that point, it hadn't occurred to me that even I, with rather meager resources at the time, was still able to help somebody less fortunate. Larry's generosity impacted me greatly, and I've followed in his footsteps for the past thirty years.
I don't jump out of my car, but I do hand money out of my window. Larry was right.