Today while standing on the corner of Dundas and Adelaide in London, Ontario I just finished an interview and was waiting for the bus. An area that is characterized by down and out shop fronts with peeling paint with bars on the windows; it's walk way's littered with older men with grizzled beards who loitered in front of quick cash stores. You know the ones where you pay 20 dollars and get 200. The overcast weather only added to the somber attitude.
Then it happened, while I was casual observing the older man wearing a dirty windbreaker, smoking outside of the quick cash store three men approached him and opened their backpacks. These weren't your local Dundas loiterers either. The oldest had a kind weathered face, the kind of person whose worked hard all of their life just trying to make an honest living, the next wearing a black pea coat and dress pants and the youngest, clad in glasses were an odd trio to say the least. What was more intriguing was the brown paper bags that they pulled out of their backpacks, what stunned me even more was that they did this and handed them to people standing outside the quick cash store. I mean the police station across the street guys, if your going to do "that" kind of stuff it's probably not the place to do it. Of course I was intrigued but still waiting for the bus at this point. After asking guy in his late twenties if he knew what they were doing or if he had seen the trio he said no and then proceeded to tell me there was a drug bust on the same corner. At this point my hesitancy out weighed my curiosity and I decided not to chase after the three who were already crossing the street. I was a little discouraged at this point thinking I missed out on a potentially interesting story, but realistically I didn't really want to risk my life and I really didn't want to have to wait for another bus. Luckily for me I spotted them coming back towards me. What are the chances? However at this point I saw the bus coming down the street and I had next to no time. I ran up to them, risking my life, only to find out that one was going to be ordained as a priest this week and the older man was a volunteer of the church and the youngest was a theology student. Turns out they were giving sandwiches to people who looked hungry. If that isn't kindness I don't know what is. I was very impressed and hurriedly asked if I could have their number. I'm sure they were probably a little take a back to see a young twenty something asking for their number, but they graciously tolerated my abruptness and I now have the privilege of sharing this awesome story that really put a smile on my face today. Another discussion for another day. Megan
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MeganMulti-media journalist with an unstoppable curiosity. Archives
May 2017
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