Week Thirty: Bringing a Bag of Food to a Homeless Couple.

This week’s big 3-0 gesture goes out to my amazing mother who always seems to inspire me to be a better person.  

Around this time last year, she was explaining to me that an itinerant was hanging around the chipstand that she owns near Sudbury. Everest was a harmless, kind and hungry man, who would keep to himself and not harass anyone for money. My mom, not being able to stand seeing anyone struggle, felt bad for the fellow and started giving a free meal once in a while. Some loyal customers started noticing this. One day, one man gave my mother some money and told her to make Everest anything he wanted. This other woman, who saw this occur, did the same, which also encouraged a kid to give the rest of his change to the homeless man. Next thing you know, Everest had a couple bucks in his pocket and was able to sustain and nourish himself for a little while. A couple of days later, a cop car drove up to the chipstand. The police were there to take Everest away in order to find him a shelter and to help him get back on his feet. As the police car drove away, Everest’s last words to my mom were: “Thank you for everything. I’ll never forget you.”

Where is Everest now? We don’t know. We can only hope that those couple of days stay at my mom’s chipstand not only gave him more time, but the right moral support to inspire him to help himself as well.

What amazed me from this story was the ripple effect that one little gesture initiated, which eventually grew to bigger and better things.

So this week, I decided to do my own version of this by prepping a little bag of food and dropping it off to someone in need. The designated recipients were a couple sitting on the street and who seemed to be struggling a lot. I asked them if they were hungry and with a despaired look in their eyes, they responded with a yes. I handed over the bag and they both thanked me repeatedly, sporting the biggest smiles on their faces. 

Instagram: geneseguin. #k4kproject

I also have to add that this week, I was also inspired by one of Herdmag’s article in their 4^th issue named HighJinx, Antiques & Vintage Oddities With A Serving Of Soul. I highly recommend grabbing one and reading that very well written piece. In a nutshell, it talks about HighJinx, a locally-owned antique shop in Ottawa who strives to help out vulnerable people in the community with the money that they raise selling unique treasures and pieces. They think and operate outside the box by adopting a very different business model, and they know how to make it work. An article well worth reading.   

It makes me happy that there are some good folks out there. I’m also delighted and feel fortunate enough that my mother is one of them.

G.

Week Twenty Nine: Bringing Cold Treats to Coworkers on an Unbearably Warm Day.

I think all of you can agree with me that this week was brutal. I think I’ve sweated in ways that I’ve never sweated before. Especially at work since our AC isn’t the best. I started noticing that some of my coworkers were getting really affected by the heat so I decided to go out and get a couple of slushies for them. They were really grateful upon receiving them and instantly felt refreshed.  

Instagram: geneseguin. #k4kproject

It’s funny how a small thing such as that can really lift up everyone’s spirits.

G.

Week Twenty Eight: No More Squeaky Doors For Our Neighbours.

My roommate and I recently moved, and we’re loving our new place. However, since it is an older building, the hinges on the doors seemed to be squeaking a lot. Since I ALWAYS have WD-40 close to my disposal (those who know me well knows that this is true), I gave all the doors in our apartment a good spray down. Good as new.

Then, when we first met our neighbours as they were stepping out of their apartment, I noticed that their door also seemed like it was one coming straight out of The Crypt Keeper. So I decided to bring out my trustee WD-40 and spray their hinges as well.

Instagram: geneseguin. #k4kproject

Now they won’t have to fear imagining the worst sound ever every time they step in or out of their apartment.

G. 

Week Twenty Seven: Helping Out with a Scholarship Fundraising Car Wash.

On Sunday, my friend Seb called me up to see if I felt like giving a hand with a car wash that his friend was organizing. It was a pretty relaxing Sunday, I didn’t have too much on the go. Why not? I said. When I got into Seb’s car, he explained to me that his friend’s dad passed away about three years ago. Since then, his friend has been dedicated to raise funds for a $1000 financial aid scholarship he created in honour of his dad.

When we got to the Saint Laurent Complex, there were already a couple of friends with their cars lined up to support this cause, some offering up 20 dollar bills per wash. Seb and I stayed for a couple hours, but I was informed that from around 11am to 3pm, they raised a total of $175. It was one of three car washes that was organized.

Instagram: genesguin. #k4kproject

Truly inspirational.

G.

Week Twenty Six: Rallying Shopping Carts at the Pharmacy.

This week, when I was at Shopper’s, I noticed a ton of shopping carts scattered everywhere around the entrance. It seemed like a pretty busy night for them so I thought I might help out. I gathered all the carts and placed them in a neat row to hopefully simplify one employee’s evening.

Instagram: geneseguin. #k4kproject

Might have not been a grand gesture, but in my opinion, it’s the little thing that counts and mean more.

G.