Over the last 4 years, the ADANAC Circle has been doing community outreach, person to person, with Ottawa’s downtown populace, in giving them prepaid, bought with our members’ donations, 20 dollar grocery cards, outside a local grocery store, usually at Bank and Somerset, or in a rent to income apartment building, nearby. Due to the Pandemic, we had to postpone our last year’s outing, scheduled for Valentine’s, until this October. Our Executive team decided we should do it the week before our Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, in order to catch up with last year’s plans to help folks to have a little cheer, locally.
In the past, we would do this activity early Saturday morning, 9:00 am, on a nightlife laden strip. We, therefore, saw a few poor souls, still feeling no pain from the night before, but for the most part, we met hard working parents, dragging a few kids alongside, to get weekend chores done early. Each year, I have enjoyed the experience so much that after moving from the centre town area, this Fall, I asked, Andrea, my consistent cohort in this activity, if she would be comfortable doing this act in an even more deprived, neighbourhood? True to form, she bravely replied, “Yes, just not near any violence.”
This was a reasonable expectation for me too, but not something I could forthright guarantee, for I was contemplating a store on Montreal Road, not an area known for being peaceful. Maybe kismet, but that store was sold. The large grocery store at Rideau St., and Nelson, was the next choice. The Salvation Army down one block, The Shepherds of Good Hope down the other, and obviously, a methadone treatment centre in one of the local pharmacies surrounded this choice locale. Apparently, a group of young adults, had just received their daily dose, and had spilled out onto the parking lot, across from us. Granted, Andrea and I were preconditioned to social issues through having been teachers, and were willing to take on a new challenge, speaking with people heavily under the influence.
Some of the people were in a small cluster across the street, while another was sitting on the concrete, slumped over, mid nod. I approached her, asking if she would like a free 20 dollar grocery card. She raised her head, and with bleary eyes met mine, and in a very soft voice said, “Thank you.” The others were approachable too, after they saw that I wasn’t pushing her into something, or in any way was I judging her, but merely offered something of assistance. Upon receiving their cards, they too expressed their gratitude, with subdued voices. We then went back to the storefront, across the street to pass out more cards.
In no time, people started rushing toward us, eager to get the grocery cards. It turned out that one of the early recipients called his buddies to come get our cards too. Now, Andrea and I were not prepared for this oncoming charge of 5-6 males, recollecting previous years, which required us to coax people into taking a card, and over an hour to hand them all out. Yet, this time we had only been out for 15 minutes, and had maybe 3 cards left. The memory of Andrea’s one condition of “nowhere violent” flashed to mind. We both had a spontaneous nervous chuckle. Then quietly murmured the number of cards left to each other, before walking directly towards them; Lord led, I’d say, holding the remainders out for the first to take. With sincere heartfelt apologies and empty hands out, we claimed we were out of cards to the stragglers.
This could have been one of those times that fear based preconceived notions could have occurred, in only a moment of triggered frustration. It certainly felt tense, but gratefully no! The men, who were out of breath, simply nodded their heads that they understood the situation. Some, managed to say, “It was okay,” One fellow followed us a half block, saying “It doesn’t matter that I didn’t get one, just thank you for doing this for us in the first place. …, (for we) usually don’t get much, and this really helps.”
Yearly, we get the same reaction of disbelief that others care, and are shown genuine gratitude, and nothing at all matching our preconceived perspective of putting self in danger, even dealing with people, we could initially have judged as out of control. True, these young people were not themselves but, were not aggressive either. Just having their mood moderator, methadone, played a role, but being Christian, I believe God had His hand in everything. With us going out to meet strangers In His Name, with no time for us to really evaluate the situation, I felt, the Lord was with us, guiding our actions, demeanour, even tones of voice, and words. I knew we could feel free of danger, doing His work, if leaving him to be sole judge. And I did! I felt free, unburdened, purposeful, and energized. I thank God for letting me be one of His vessels that day, and for sending a great friend to share the experience with me! Furthermore, I grew spiritually. I came to realize, as back when teaching, that all need, yes everyone needs, to feel seen, respected, and given our sincere compassion. God does the rest. We have nothing to fear. I urge all to the challenge of getting out of our individual comfort zones we have diligently created, to do a Random Act of Kindness. Believe me you will feel richly rewarded.
Written and submitted by a member of Adanac Circle (December 2021)