Compassionate Signs for the Homeless - Meet Dorothy
This is Dorothy. She is definitely not in Kansas anymore. I encountered Dorothy a couple of years ago. At the time, she and her husband lived in a VW van that was parked across the street. They used to take turns on the corner, until her husband became too ill to endure the searing Oklahoma heat.
You see, Dorothy's husband had cancer. Dorothy herself was not well, either. She had a host of conditions - from an auto-immune disorder, to arthritis, and many other things in-between. They were on the street asking for help, not just because they were homeless, but also to be able to afford their medications. Oklahoma's Medicaid program only allows 5 prescriptions a month, any more than five, and the patient must pay out-of-pocket. Seniors are sometimes forced to choose between medications prescribed to them. (Don't even get me started on THAT issue)
Both Dorothy and her husband were in their 70's.
Obviously, I had to stop and help her. What if that were my grandma? I'd want someone to stop and help her. I am personally mortified when I see our veterans and our seniors begging on street corners. It didn't use to be like this.
After talking to her, and giving her a sign, I went to the travel stop across the street. She was hungry, but it was rush hour, and she didn't want to leave her corner. I went and got her an orange, and some bottled water. When I took it back to her she actually cried. And then I cried, because a beautiful soul like Dorothy was in tears over a piece of fruit.
I saw her several times over the next few months. Every time I found her, she was still on the street, smiling and waving at the traffic, holding her sign. She told me the signs had worked much better than the regular signs she made. She even asked if I had any extra to pass out to her "other corner" friends. I made sure everyone in that area had as many signs as they wanted.
The last few times I was in that area, Dorothy and the VW van were nowhere to be seen. I don't know what happened to them. I wish i had known about @steemit back then. I would have given more than just signs!
Because both @ackza and @dobartim have inspired me with their creative use of Steemit profits, I'm tossing around an idea for people who are homeless. Many of them hang out at the library every day, and it wouldn't be that hard to teach a few of them to use Steemit. Of course, I need to learn it first, I'm still relatively new....but Steemit is a game changer, and I truly believe in the potential of this platform to change our world for the better. 
I'd love to hear your thoughts on the idea, and maybe some tips from more experienced Steemians.
Until then, maybe Dorothy's story has inspired you to make and pass out a few signs of your own. They really do work!
It is incredible the action and the work that you are doing, very beautiful. I wish there were many people like you
You are too kind, @mariagil - you are one of those beautiful people, too. :)
This story really hit me in the feels. I never knew that about Medicaid. Thank you for writing this.
You are welcome. I never knew it either until I met Dorothy, and I was shocked. I just couldn't fathom it. Still can't. There are just so many reasons people end up homeless. Thank you for caring, @malloryblythe. You give me hope for a better tomorrow for all of us.
I live in LA, which has the second highest homeless population in America. We have an entire section of the downtown area where the city government has decided that homeless people are allowed to sleep on the street (Skid Row). It's a pretty large area, and at night, the streets turn into miniature tent cities. A lot of the people there are the elderly, or veterans, or people who are disabled, or suffering from mental illness. Exactly the kind of people we should be taking care of, not forcing to sleep on the street. I don't know how we are supposedly the most prosperous nation on earth but we allow so much poverty and suffering.
I know, right? You nailed it - "Exactly the kind of people we should be taking care of, not forcing to sleep on the street."
At one point, there was a place called The Dream Center in L.A. Do you know of it? They were doing what they could, but I'm not sure how it has evolved over the years. The problem has become so massive. The good news is, people like you, and me, and so many others truly do care, and Steemit has given us a voice, and a platform to actually make a real difference in the lives of others.
Thanks for taking the time to read it, @presentnworldsc. I agree with you wholeheartedly, this platform will change many people's lives for the better. It has already done so, for so many. I'm glad to meet you, and look forward to getting to know you better!
You did it! And you did great! What a great post and how awesome is that, that it helped this woman and others. Now to be serious.. How many times can I clone you and spread them out into the world to do the very same? :p Just look at that woman's face, she is so happy and filled with warmth. And you cried too :) Proof that you show that you care and you are compassionate. Good for you <3 This is a brightened day for sure ^^
Oh, @foxyspirit, you are too sweet. I actually don't think I'm much different than anyone else, I think people such as yourself DO care, they just don't know how to solve such an overwhelming problem.
When I was finishing my degree on the 30 year plan (lol) I was newly divorced, and raising four children, three of whom were teenagers at the time, AND trying to work and go back to school. I would just get so overwhelmed! I had this really great professor, and she used to say,
"How do you eat an elephant?"
To which I replied, "I wouldn't."
LOL...and THEN she would say, "One bite at a time."
I think many people see the enormity of the problem, and if we just break it down, and do what we can, we'll have it solved fairly quickly, don't you think?
I like that professor. She is on point. I will have to remember that. It would be solved quickly. But the problem is that not enough people care. And the government is a big part of that. They would have the means to get people off the streets. When I say 'means' i don't necessarily mean the funding as well. They have the capability to do it and also change the minds of people. They have the power to change ones thought process. I do say the government because they are the ones that govern the people right. The people listen to what they have to say even if its not what they want to hear, they still listen. So what could be done from us to get more people to be involved in helping more homeless people? To get a bigger team going? That would be the first bite out of the elephant. The more we are to help, the more ideas are provoked and shared and then applied.
Did anyone tell you today that you are awesome!! That's a pretty cool idea to teach people how to steem too :) Here in Mexico there's always someone to help, and I try to make it a daily thing to do just that; if not people, then animals here as well...so many in need. Imagine our world if everyone took the time to simply buy someone an orange and a bottle of water:) What a beautiful world it would be! Cheers!
You are amasing @seaslim... I'm very happy to know you and to be working with such a great human being!!!
Well, you are pretty amazing yourself, @davemccoy. And actually, I'm not all that amazing, I just had an idea, that's all. I thought I should put that psychology degree to good use. lol
I'm the one who is happy to know YOU!
"I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples."~ Mother Teresa
I'm just a little minnow, making ripples in the waves of the pond, hoping to inspire others to make a few ripples of their own.. .
we are both minnows, but we are making a bigger wave together ;)
ps... I have about 15 minutes right now if you want to grab me on discord ... If not I will be back around 7pm est to help you with your questions!!!
What a beautiful heart you have @seaslim! You are right! Our vulnerable elderly, forced to "live" in this harsh world is too much to take in ... really!
Good on you for taking action! Every city has the homeless! I hope you hear from people who have initiatives in place in their communities! I wish you good luck with this! I will watch for how it evolves. Upvoting and Resteeming!
Thanks, @kismet2018 ~ I do hope enough people finally wake up and ask themselves for solutions, this is really out of hand here. It seems like our most vulnerable citizens are the one who suffer most. I wish I could do more, and maybe someday, Steemit will allow me the chance. That is what I love about this community, so many people here, including yourself, truly care deeply about these issues, and are creating the world in which they want to live.
Congratulations you have been upvoted because you left a post in the NewbieResteem Discord Chat channel post Promotion Box.
A wonderful/sad post. Wonderful that you can spread the word, sad that the word needs to be spread.
We invite you to use our tag to connect with more of our members. To learn more visit: Come Join Us!!! (Newbie Resteem Initiative)
Lots of votes made possible due to the kindness of abh12345 and his Steemit Curation Leagues
Thanks, @bashadow and the very generous @abh12345 for this. Your support means more to me right now than I have the words to express. Someday I'll blog all about it. Meanwhile, thank you so much!
This is sad when you see old people on the streets instead of having fun on their retirement. This is quite sad. I do hope that someone helped them.
don't feel bad, you did what you can at that time. Thanks for sharing this!
I hope so, too. It's becoming a national disgrace, unfortunately. I believe if we all work together, we can fix these problems though. Thank you for your kindness, I didn't really do anything special
- just acted like a normal human being, ya know?
We have this problem in my country too. Those who've been left with family or their sons or daughters are far away. I do hope the government has enough funds to support those who can't afford retirement.
A little kindness big or small is a noble act. You don't see that every day. :)
re-steemed as requested in the newbieresteem discord channel
And here is a little take from me on the homeless heroes:
https://steemit.com/homeless/@bifilarcoil/what-if-we-could-give-homeless-people-a-steemit-account-somehow
and a vote for the hard work.
Thank you, @bifilarcoil - and thank you for the link. I think it is a spectacular idea to teach homeless people about #Steemit - and when I am in a position to do so, that will be my first mission. You asked an interesting question in your post about how homeless people would do here on Steemit, and my take on that is, they are people without a house, not without a heart and soul. I think they will do spectacularly on this platform. What do you think?
I think the same, they have real knowledge about society, real fact's without fake news.
They need access to computers and internet. Maybe a cellphone with steepshot, dtube, dsound, to record spoken word and upload it once they are near an open wifi hotspot???
We should ask THEM what they can use, and how they want to use it. But not all of them are familiar with the technology. We as steemians are the ones who need to build that bridge.
Any idea's? Please write articles about it and drop links to them under my article. And wherever you find other writings about the homeless.
Or is that spam? Fuck it.. just do it. These people must not be left behind right.
my motto:
DO SOMETHING,
ANYTHING GOES.
no matter how small
@bifilarcoil