Ever since I began this course, I have become far more aware of homelessness around me. Prior to taking this class, I had grown accustomed to seeing people holding signs and asking for money at the end of freeway exits and because of this had become rather desensitized to the notion. I didn’t actually think about the sign bearer as an individual or take the time to wonder what life must be like for them. It is natural not to dwell upon things that we find troubling and much easier to ignore the problems around us. Now that I am learning so much about hunger and homelessness in America, it is impossible for me to just look past the people I encounter on the streets or hand them some change and forget about it. Every time I see someone asking for money or pushing a shopping cart, I cannot help but wonder what their life is like or what happened to them that they are now in that situation or if they chose to be homelessness?

Today, I was walking along State Street with my friend and cousin and we were approached by an older woman. She politely elucidated that she was new to Redlands and was unemployed and that in order to clothe and to feed herself she sells teddy bears.She asked us if we would be willing to/interested in purchasing one of the stuffed animals she had for sale. Without hesitation, we each gave her some money. She thanked us profusely and was incredibly grateful for even just the few dollars. She tried to give us a bear in exchange for the money, but we declined as we would prefer for her to keep her wares so that she has more products to sell.

After we walked away, two affluent looking women who had witnessed our interaction with the woman turned to us and said in a friendly way, “that probably does more good for you than her.” While I understand that they were trying to make conversation, I was offended by how quick they were to assume that the woman would misuse our money. I loathe the stereotype that every person who appears homeless is a drug addict and thus, you should refrain from giving them money because they will “just use it for drugs.” I found it incredibly respectable that instead of just asking for money, she was trying to sell bears. It really bothered me how those women judged her without even speaking to her.