It was probably about this time of year in 2019. I had picked up some snacks at Hometown to take to a meeting. I usually survey my surroundings, but I hadn't seen her until she was by my side as I placed bags in the back seat of my car.
The small woman was dressed in a coat and a toboggan - much too warmly for the temperate Fall day. She immediately told me she needed help. Walgreens wouldn't let her have her cancer medicine if she didn't have her co-pay. Did I have three dollars?
It wasn't unusual to see panhandlers at the Seven-Points Shopping Center, but it was rare to see a woman. Judging from her looks, she could have been very ill. I briefly thought of driving her the one block to the pharmacy to see just what she needed, but I knew that would make me late for my meeting.
I opened my billfold to discover a one-dollar bill and a ten. I started to hand her the one and tell her it was all I had. Then I thought how difficult it would be to ask a complete stranger for money, so I handed her the ten and told her good luck.
That December, I wrote a blog on the homeless situation in Florence. Several mentioned the woman I had met at Seven-Points. Her name was Hope, and she was a regular at Flo-Bama. My ten dollars apparently went to purchase alcohol for Hope. Had I done the right thing when I gave her the money?
This past year, Hope had several arrests - one for "Aggressive Panhandling." I was very sad for Hope, but I had never seen her since our initial meeting. How does society handle someone like Hope?
I read yesterday that she had died alone on a stranger's porch. I have no answers, but I have a great deal of sorrow...
*****