Keep 5$ in my car's coffee cup holder

Parking? Emergencies? Pocket money? Nope...

On one route I take frequently, there are several homeless people who ask for help. It's a relatively dangerous intersection where cars rev up to take the freeway ramp. I've often wondered how these people stay safe and whether they manage to make any money. My thought always stopped there. When it comes to charity, I typically give to organisations that I think will help in a direct, "useful" fashion rather than toss dollars at a person I don't know. Then two things happened.

I was stopped at the light when one of the gentlemen came up to my window. It was on a wintery day, during the pandemic, and despite his mask and the cold, he had a friendly demeanour as he gestured to his sign. Nothing about him was aggressive or threatening - on the contrary, he waved hello (and then goodbye) in a casual and respectful fashion. While I was equally friendly, I did not open my window nor did I give him any money, mostly because my wallet was safely tucked away in my bag and I was eyeing the traffic light hoping it would soon switch to green. However, I couldn't help thinking of all the odds against him: the cold, the virus, the traffic - he was exposed in so many ways to pain, ill-health and even death.

A few days later, a friend of mine reminded a group of us that we are all God's children. I don't believe in God but the image of the man at the intersection came back to my mind: how he and I live in the same city, how he and I have good days and bad days, how he and I have fears and hopes. I thought about how I was born into a life with big challenges and how he was born into a life with great challenges. Regardless of how he came to that street corner, by choice or circumstance, I quantifiably have more in resources, opportunity and support. This made me change my outlook about "tossing money" to a stranger and it is why I now choose to have $5 in my car's cup holder, within easy reach, to slip to someone in need at a busy street intersection.

So why $5? The pandemic has had a funny effect of taking most of the change out of circulation. Certainly, I always chose the digital option over cash payment. This means that I have no change, at all, on me. I went to the bank and thought I could request quarters and loonies, but it seemed too much trouble when the ATM is right there... And besides, if I can casually spend $5 on a non-fat soy green latte supreme with extra sparkles, surely I can give $5 to a person... who can spend it on a splurge like food, alcohol or a fancy coffee.