What an eye-opener indeed

Went on the 'soup van' last night.
In essence it's a van...
that goes around the city to give food to the poor/homeless.
The food that go into it are leftovers from treat vans selling sandwiches and sweets to corporate people. SOUP was homemade. sure, it's not the best-tasting soup in the world...it didn't take 1 hour to make, but it sure was a labor of love. and, get this, one lady makes banana bread EVERY WEEK to give to those in need. the look on their faces when they hear you've got dessert sure tells you how much it means to them.
Anyways.
I was on the van that went 'inside' which is for the people who need food but live in shelters.
very very shabby shelters.
Imagine living your life in a room...sharing a shower and a toilet with everyone else on that floor. every single day.

I think it's been a very very long time ago since they've felt embarrassed about getting help from volunteers. I want to know their stories. Who they've been; what led them here. I'm sure no one wants to be in this situation...and even if they don't seem all that hopeful, surely they are hoping. And i pray that there's enough hope to go around. Some of them seem like they're so ready to surrender the rest of their lives to this fate. i hope its not the case. but it's easy for me to say; how can i possibly fathom what they are going through?

But...the most confronting situation was when we handed out blankets and food to those sleeping at the power station. in the cold. there was this man who was SO. YOUNG. and he kinda looks like hoobastank's lead singer. ok he REALLY does! so anyways. u can easily imagine him being a regular guy...construction worker, office worker, whatever. and here he was. sleeping on a bench in the winter chill. taking soup from a van. it was so heartbreaking how he was so so so so grateful for what we were doing for them.
i'm not even sure i can be that truly grateful for a bed. blanket. warmth. food. not until i am in his place. it's just so easy for us to take the little things for granted. cliche. but true.

And what's worse....i never knew these shelters housing all these people in need were in the city. right opposite from where i go to uni everyday. all these big townhouses were inside housing so many ppl. it's easy for ppl to say 'oh, at least the government's giving them a place to stay and ppl knock on their doors to give them food'...that their lives are good. but heck. who in the world wants to be in their position anyways? can you even survive on the barest of essentials?

What a look into the world i had never come close to seeing. What i never knew was so widespread in this city.

Kudos to the dedicated soup makers who do this every day.