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Serving Dinner to Homeless Veterans Puts It All In Perspective

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with North Shore Suburbs & Chicago Real Estate

About a week ago, I volunteered at the local Salvation Army. This particular facility encompasses one of the largest Salvation Army residences in the country -- housing 500 men, women, and children at all times!  My assignment was to help serve dinner in 3 shifts to the male residents.  One of these shifts is made up of homeless veterans. As they made their way into the cafeteria, each gentleman found a seat and raised his hand to indicate he was in need of a tray. Every one of them was gracious and hungry.

After all trays were delivered and consumed, one by one the men stood up to leave.  I started wiping down tables in preparation for the next shift, and as I was cleaning around one gentleman who was not yet finished, I apologized for disturbing his dinner. He looked up at me, smiled, and said "thank you so much for feeding me." I replied "thank you, too!" And, although it was just a brief interaction during a fleeting moment in time, I will never forget it as long as I live.

VETERANS DAY IS THIS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH

To all the veterans who have served in the past, and to all who are now serving on behalf of our country -- a sincere and heartfelt "THANK YOU" for your selfless acts of bravery, courage, patriotism, and loyalty. Because of you, I have a life of opportunity and many blessings for which I am truly grateful.

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carie shapiro

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Comments(5)

Andrew Herren
Craig Massee Real Estate - Milledgeville, GA

Thank you for your support.

Nov 08, 2011 04:01 AM
Andrew Capelli
Troy, MI

Carie: Good for you for volunteering, and thanks for the important reminder!

Nov 08, 2011 04:15 AM
Ronald Curtis
Sapphire Associates - West Palm Beach, FL
Negotiating the best price and terms for my Buyers

Hello Carie.........

Helping others brings out the very best of us.

That our country has allowed so many veterans to be poor, homeless, and sick is absolutely unacceptable. It is easy for policy makers to decide to go to war. Too bad they are not ready to stand up for their convictions, and help those and their families who were forced to do their bidding.

This is my opinion, and I am one of those lucky veterans who was able to go to college via the G.I. Bill.

Nov 08, 2011 07:28 AM
Carie Shapiro
North Shore Suburbs & Chicago Real Estate - Evanston, IL

Andrew & Andrew :)  Thank you so much for your comments!


Ronald:  I appreciate your thoughts.  Yes ... it is really heartbreaking!

 

Nov 08, 2011 03:11 PM
Suzanne McLaughlin
Sabinske & Associates, Inc. (Albertville, St. Michael) - Saint Michael, MN
Sabinske & Associates, Realtor

You really got me with this post, Carie.  This is one of my "causes."  Thanks for bringing attention to this.

Oct 23, 2012 02:57 AM