When I first started working in downtown Atlanta, on my drive to work, I noticed the tent cities that were under the overpasses.  While walking between state government buildings, I saw and was sometimes accosted by the downtown homeless.

There are a couple of churches where half a dozen homeless men loiter on the front steps and the Department of Human Resources [where some of my work is done] is surrounded by the homeless and begging. I learned quickly which routes were safer.

I was, and still am, extremely awkward around homeless people. It makes me uncomfortable to talk to them, as more often than not, they are mentally ill, fighting their own internal and external demons. I never know what to say, as I can rarely figure out what they talk about. When they ask me for money, I feel guilty but I adamantly refuse.

The first homeless person that I connected with was this little old (at least she looks old) white lady that sometimes hangs about the state government buildings.  The first time I saw her I was taken aback. She doesn’t belong on the streets. Her speak pattern makes be believe that she’s developmentally delayed. I wonder where her family is and how she fell through society’s cracks.

She, like most other homeless people, asked me for money. At first, I told her no just like I told all the others. For days, weeks, months, she asked me for money.  Every day I refused.

One day when she asked and I refused to give her money, she asked me if I had any food to share.  I was so surprised that I stopped in my tracks.

I immediately went to my lunch bag and gave her everything that didn’t need to be cooked. I think I gave her apple sauce, another piece of fruit and a bag of chips.  This was around the holidays, and I knew there would be food around the office. When I got to my office, I fixed her a plate and went back outside to give it to her, but she was gone.

After that, I thought about her every morning when I made my lunch. I packed my normal lunch and a little something extra for her. Just in case I saw her.  More often than not, especially as the weather got frigid, she wouldn’t be around when I would enter and leave the building. But I was ready for her.