Fortino Puerta sent me a story that gives me hope.
There are just so many people out there whom are in a situation where the difference between security and homelessness, can be helped by the kindness of just a single person.
LaShenda Williams from Nashville was homeless for a long time. She has a learning disability where she has difficulties reading and writing, and also had a battle with drugs, leaving her in a very difficult position. So for almost a year, she slept in her car in the parking lot of a Kroger store.
However, LaShenda has a wonderful spirit and ultimately remained positive. She went into the Kroger every day to say hi to the employees, and one day gathered enough courage to ask Jacqueline Vandal, head of hiring, for a job.
Jacqueline approached LaShenda as soon as there was a job, sat with her for over an hour to help her fill out the application properly, and as soon as she handed the application back told her she was hired.
LaShenda hugged her a just cried. She said she was just so overwhelmed that someone gave her a chance.
Well, it’s been a wonderful experience because after 5 months of work she is no longer homeless- has her very own apartment, furnished by kind neighbors and strangers who heard of her struggle.
The moral of this story? If you have the power to, give someone in need a chance. That can look like a lot of different things, but you’ll know when you’re in that powerful position.
Photo: Getty