SDF

Each day that I have been in Pairs I have thought about what it would be like to be homeless. Not that I never thought about it before I got to Paris, but i think about it so much more often now. 

Ever since middle school when my mom took me to volunteer at the Union Gospel Mission, I've had a heart for homeless people. And I know that Fort Worth has a problem with how many people we have without homes and I knew it was a problem everywhere, but I never new how bad it was until I got to Pairs. I feel like everywhere I go around her I at least see one homeless person (or maybe not homeless but without enough money to be begging, or faking it, i don't know). I'm sure I see more of them than the average Parisian because I frequent the touristy areas more but even on my walk to school there are two that are there all the time. 

And the homeless people here aren't just single people homeless. They sit on the metro steps or on the Champs Elysee holding their sleeping children. When I see the children I just want to pull my wallet out and dump it in the change collection cup. But I don't, and I fell guilty until I get off at the next metro stop and see a group of completely wasted homeless guys, or get harassed by one on the metro. 

I always feel like I should do something to help them, but I don't want to give them money because I don't know what they're going to do with it. I don't want to give them money if they're just going to go buy booze or drugs. Because that's what a lot of them do. One night we gave a guy all of our left over food from a pick-nick. I liked doing that, and wish I could do it more, but I don't know where to do it or who to give it to. I feel like they should deserve it, like they should be something to actively get out of the situation they're in. Not that I think the others don't deserve to eat. 

Anyway, I think I've decided to try and get more involved in volunteering next semester and over winter break. I don't have money to give, but I have time, and I think that's even better than money. I don't know what I'll do, but I'll figure it out. 

I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to be homeless, or to grow up in a family that's homeless. And when I try to it makes me so sad; I feel like I can't just sit around and think about it anymore; I have to do something to help them. Especially the kids. 

I read about a girl who started a running club with a homeless shelter that she would run by. They started to run together and ended up running the city marathon. I'd love to be able to do something proactive like that, and not just serve food and be done with it. 

Let me know if you have any suggestions.