Read the inspiring story of how a news man became a new man through one 6th-grade girl's encounter with him on her way to school:
Each day on the way to school, I buy a North County Times newspaper from one of the men who sells the papers on Highway 101 in Encinitas. The newspapermen are in a program for homeless men that helps them get back to work, and helps them make their way back into society again. Usually I give my newspaper friends a small treat like a granola bar or a cookie when I purchase a paper from them. The men seem well trained in their new job. They are usually energetic, cheerful, and enthusiastically offer their papers to passing motorists. They are always kind and appreciative when I buy a paper. One day, right after one of the newspaper friends graduated to the next step in the program, a new newspaper hawker took his place. Unlike all the others I had met, this newspaper man just didn't seem happy. He didn’t smile; he appeared sad. I continued to buy his papers everyday and he would quietly mumble "thanks" , but rarely made eye contact. I felt sad for him--his heart was hurting. I wanted to do something special for him. I told my mom we needed to give him something special to let him know that we cared for him. The next day, I bought a paper and gave him one of our Red Bags, with a simple prayer I wrote for him. The prayer was very short, it read: I am praying for you, I hope you have a good day!” He quietly thanked me and gave us a slight smile.
On the way to school the next day, my newspaper friend began to smile at me as he recognized us a few car-lengths away from the stop sign where he stands. He waved enthusiastically at me, walked up to our car, leaned in, and thanked me repeatedly for the bag and my note to him. He told me several times how much he appreciated it and how it made his day. The next day, he seemed different. He seemed happy. Every day thereafter he was all smiles when he saw us, and always had something nice or funny to say. I knew that the Red Bag had worked its magic. It is a bag of essentials for sure, but it is also a bag filled with love. After the food is gone, the prayer card continues to remind my newspaper friend that I care about him, and that I love him.
