Follow Me To ... Winter Shopping (#24)

Winter Warmth Project, hosted by WHC, Friendship Place, and local churches

I have walked into Edlavitch Hall at Washington Hebrew Congregation several times and have seen it look exquisite (especially at Jacob, Sarah, and Ella's Bar and Bat Mitzvah parties), but never have I seen it look better than it did today!  One half of the large ballroom had tables upon tables packed with sweaters, pants, hats, gloves, and scarves as well as racks and racks of winter coats.  There was even a make shift shoe store with boxes of new boots piled high.  On the other side, were dining tables, a buffet of hot food, and a table with goodie bags to-go.  This was the Winter Warmth Store, an annual event hosted by WHC in partnership with Friendship Place and local churches.  Homeless men and women are invited in (in fact, bused in) for a hot meal and to "shop" for what they need while a friendly personal shopper assists them.  Today, I was one such personal shopper and happily gave my guests the royal treatment! 

Though of course the warm winter clothes were the main attraction, it was the smaller things that made the event more meaningful and will be my big "takeaway!"

My Takeaway:  We tend to think our gestures, gifts, and acts have to be grand to be impactful -- they really don't as it's really the little things that can make the biggest difference.  (1) Simply offering to carry my guest's suitcases and bags as he shopped turned out to be a gift.  Just by lightening his load, literally, made him act 100 pounds lighter and allowed him to stretch, let his guard down, and use both hands to look through the contents on the tables.  JUST A LITTLE THING!  (2)  Another guest who was self-conscience about her size thought nothing would fit her.  She started with her head down and spoke in a quiet voice.  As I showed her a sweater that was "BEAUTIFUL," she started to perk up.  By the time we found the hat with matching scarf that was "AMAZING," she got a little louder.  When we found a long coat that she could actually zip all the way up, it was "PERFECT" and she jumped up and down.  This sweet lady appreciated EVERYTHING and looked at the tables of gently used clothes as if they were piled in gold!  JUST A LITTLE THING!  (3) Though my favorite part of the event was the "shoe store," it was really the young high schoolers who staffed it that made it so special.  They greeted each guest with a smile, looked past their worn shoes and socks with holes and smiles with no teeth, and made each person feel special.  This special interaction between these men and women and young people made such a difference.  How often do you think young people engage with this part of the community?  JUST A LITTLE THING!  (4) Lastly, I will always remember being told by someone who was once homeless that he often went weeks without anyone calling him by name or looking into his eyes.  Ever since, I try to slow as I pass people and say hello while looking at them - really looking at them.  Just introducing myself to each guest and offering a handshake seemed to be a gift.  Will you remember to look up and say, "hello"?   JUST A LITTLE THING!