It Saddens Me
For the first time, I have known someone personally who lost everything in New Orleans. Leaving everything in his house, he picked up what he could, loaded it onto a bus, and was shipped to Fayetteville. With no family to take him in, he sits alone in his empty apartment, searching for a sense of belonging.
The Late Night program at the University of Arkansas allows their students to eat at a fast food restraunt in the "Union" and count it as a meal from the cafeteria. I, walking into the Union, notice a new guy at the fry counter at Burger King. He seems like a kind soul, and he makes my order of a large half french fry/ half onion ring. I get attached to him, and he gets my order right everytime, whereas most of the others are clueless. When I see him, he always greets me with a, "Hey buddy, how's it going?" or "How you doing, do you want the regular?" I always stop by to say hi, even if I am not going to order anything.
Tonight, I headed to the ice cream freezer, which is located next to the Burger King fry counter. The fry cook greets me with his usual upbeat voice. I get to talking to him, and find out that he is the one that lost everything during Katrina. He prays everynight that God will guide him, and that there was a purpose for the hurricane. He will go back go his home for the first time over Christmas, seeking the closure that will settle his heart. With no home insurance and little money, he will return with his new family, consisting of his co-workers, to see what he can salvage. He will return with low expectations, but he needs the closure. Whatever he receives from FEMA will be a blessing, and he will be content with any amount.
It is the first time that I feel obligated to help someone from the Katrina catastrophe. I hate donating money to organizations, because there is the chance that the money is mishandled and does find the hands of the needy. I will get him something to help him along his way, even if it is a mere camera to take pictures of the place he called home. It almost brings a tear to my eye to think of all the turmoil he has been put through, but I am glad that he has begun to start a new life here.
The Late Night program at the University of Arkansas allows their students to eat at a fast food restraunt in the "Union" and count it as a meal from the cafeteria. I, walking into the Union, notice a new guy at the fry counter at Burger King. He seems like a kind soul, and he makes my order of a large half french fry/ half onion ring. I get attached to him, and he gets my order right everytime, whereas most of the others are clueless. When I see him, he always greets me with a, "Hey buddy, how's it going?" or "How you doing, do you want the regular?" I always stop by to say hi, even if I am not going to order anything.
Tonight, I headed to the ice cream freezer, which is located next to the Burger King fry counter. The fry cook greets me with his usual upbeat voice. I get to talking to him, and find out that he is the one that lost everything during Katrina. He prays everynight that God will guide him, and that there was a purpose for the hurricane. He will go back go his home for the first time over Christmas, seeking the closure that will settle his heart. With no home insurance and little money, he will return with his new family, consisting of his co-workers, to see what he can salvage. He will return with low expectations, but he needs the closure. Whatever he receives from FEMA will be a blessing, and he will be content with any amount.
It is the first time that I feel obligated to help someone from the Katrina catastrophe. I hate donating money to organizations, because there is the chance that the money is mishandled and does find the hands of the needy. I will get him something to help him along his way, even if it is a mere camera to take pictures of the place he called home. It almost brings a tear to my eye to think of all the turmoil he has been put through, but I am glad that he has begun to start a new life here.