Dear Reverend,
I recently had an encounter with a young homeless woman on the Burlington mall who asked me for money for food. I gave her $25 (almost all I had on me) and asked her what she was going to eat and if she had a safe place to sleep. She said she had a tent and “two people who help me.” She pointed to an older couple who also seemed to be homeless. I was dumbfounded. So, what is the right thing to do?
Bleeding Heart
(man, 66)
Dear Bleeding Heart,
It was very generous of you to give the woman cash, but the fact that you took time to speak with her is what really strikes me. Showing that kind of compassion and respect for a total stranger is something the world could use a whole lot more of.
There have been people living on the streets of Burlington for decades, but the problem has grown quite a bit in recent years. It wouldn’t be feasible — or, in some cases, even helpful — to give cash to everyone you see, but there are other things you can do.
Your dollars may go further if you donate to an organization such as COTS or the Chittenden County Homeless Alliance. Perhaps you could come up with a creative fundraiser to do with friends. If you’re able to give your time, consider volunteering at a local shelter or food bank.
Another fairly easy way to provide immediate assistance is to put together care kits and carry one or two with you when you’re out and about. These can be small bags that include some essential items: water, toiletries, snacks, perhaps a few dollars. You could also print a contact list of local resources to put in the kits.
A lot of people say they care about societal problems, but not many actually do something about them. Taking the next step and turning that care into action is the only way to solve anything. It sounds like you’re on the right track.
Good luck and God bless,
The Reverend
This article appears in Mar 19-25, 2025.
