The True Meaning of Helping

The true meaning of a helping hand.  These people Papa Roux are awesome.
 

So while I'm outside putting down massive quantities of ice melt, a young kid walked through the parking lot headed west.  He asked me how far it was to 10th and Sherman.  I told him it was quite a way away.  At least 6 or 7 miles.  I suggested that he would be far better off on the bus then on foot, especially in all this ice and slush.  He thanked me and continued on.

He could have asked me for money for a bus. In fact I quite expected him to. He didn't.  He just started walking.

15 minutes later, as we were driving down 10th street to head to Strange Brew, we saw him still waking down 10th.  He was not yet to Franklin Road.

I told Colleen Roux to pull over, and I called to him to get in.  As we were driving, we asked him about his journey.

Jhaquiel was waking from 42nd and Post to an interview at 10th and Sherman.  For a potential (but not guaranteed) minimum-wage job.  In this weather.  Walking, because he couldn't afford the bus.  He had actually planned his time well and the interview was still 2 hours away.

We drove him to 10th and Sherman.  He was extremely thankful and said so.  I got his telephone number and told him to keep his interview, but I would see if there was a way to hire him, so his daily trek to work would be 3 miles instead of 10.  I also asked him if he had eaten today, and he said he hadn't.  I gave him money for lunch and dropped him at the 10th and Sherman Dairy Queen.  I think he was in shock.

So, he doesn't know it yet, but he starts with us on Monday.  It's been a while since I've met someone so young with a work ethic like that!

And the next time somebody hands me a sob story about needing money for this or that, because they really want to make their lives better... I hope to be able to introduce them to Jhaquiel. :-)