On a cold December night, three volunteers were driving the streets of Indianapolis in hopes of finding anyone who was out on the streets needing help.  We had just passed Conseco going south on Pennsylvania heading for the Salt Mines, started through the bridge overpass just north of South Street when we spotted three men on the left and at least two or three on the right side of the busy four lane street.  So, we stopped briefly to let them know we would come back around the block with food.  One man said “one of the men across the street had no blankets, only a card board box to lie on and he was about to freeze to death.”  So, our priority changed quickly as someone was in great need of a warm blanket.

We drove around the block to park,  prepare food bags and blankets to take back to them and to drop the items off quickly, we didn’t want to cause an accident with the heavy traffic flow.  So, we made room for the third person in our vehicle, prepared for our stop and drove back around.  Then we went to the man with no blanket.  He did not speak English; however, he knew we were trying to help him.  So, we wrapped him with blankets and gave him food.   He looked at us with thanks in his eyes and put his hands together and thanked God for sending us to him.

As we were leaving one of the other homeless men covered him with an old trench coat.  It wasn’t much, but he shared what he had with a friend in need.  Finding and helping one person made our entire evening worth while and we knew why we brave the cold and continue to be involved with HOOP.  The pay back is priceless!

On Monday morning I talked with a co-worker, Helen Brewer (who had just brought us these blankets a few days before) to share our outing experience with her.  She was so thankful that she brought the blankets to us and that I shared the story with her.

What a difference she made in a homeless person’s life. Just one small kind gesture, may have saved a life!

Sandi Bergstrom