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Last revised: January 20, 1997
Helping the Homeless
One Thermos At A Time
by Mama O'Shea
At this time of year, when the weather is cold enough to chill you to the bone, my heart really goes out to the homeless folks, the people who have to find a place to sleep outside.
I know how hard it can be. I've walked in their shoes. I perfected the art of wiggling my foot back and forth while I slept on a bench, so people passing by would think I was awake and wouldn't hassle me.
When you're on the street, you can't help following your nose to a local restaurant. You knock on the back door and ask the cook if they have any food they could spare. The cook is likely to turn you out, but sometimes you get lucky.
Your odds improve bigtime if you have a container they can just toss some leftovers into.
That's why I'd like to ask you to consider doing a simple act that may help to save someone's life over this cold winter: Go to a surplus store, or a thrift store, and find a Thermos. It can be ugly and beat-up, it could be a Barbie Thermos or a GI Joe Thermos, it doesn't matter as long as the inside can still be cleaned out and used for food.
Put some hot soup, or even just some coffee, into the Thermos, and take it to somebody on the street. They could really use something warm and satisfying right about now.
But best of all, they'll still have the Thermos when they're done. They can rinse it out and take it to a restaurant and maybe get it filled up again. The container gives them much better odds.
And you'll be surprised how much better your simple gesture will make you feel too!
Homeless women also could use pantyhose - lots and lots of pantyhose. They don't care what color they are or if they have runs in 'em, or even if they fit very well. They can use all those layers of pantyhose for extra insulation and as protection against rapists - it buys them a little time in a sudden attack. Like I say, living on the street is no picnic.
I still wiggle one foot in my sleep.
For over 22 years Mama O'Shea hosted "Shoutin' Out," a weekly call-in talk show, on KPFA-FM in Berkeley. In August 1995 KPFA management dropped her show but she still can't keep her mouth shut. Mama is a much-loved septuagenarian (look it up!), a lifelong activist, and a dedicated druid.
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