While I was at the Salvation Army....what would you have done?

[angiewith2]

I went into a salvation army to try to find useable stuffed bears for my craft projects. I found a bear i like but it was bagged with a stuffed dog too.  I really didn't want the dog but it was on 50 cents for the 2 so i just bought it.  In line in front of me at the register was a man and a little girl.  The little girl looked to only be about 4 maybe 5 at the oldest.  She was being so good and quiet. She kept looking up at the stuffed animals I had in my hands. The guy,(not sure if he was her father or another male relative) was buying some clothes that looked as though they were her size. 

I don't know if you've ever been around someone and could just sense that they were down on their luck. Just having a hard time in life at that point. They went out the door while i was paying for the stuffed animals. I thought to myself "i wonder if that man would mind if i gave that little girl this stuffed dog i'm not going to use anyway" I paid for them and went out to my car. They happened to have parked beside my car. I started trying to open the bag with the stuffed animals in (they staple the darn things shut) and hesitated. I wondered if he would think it was strange that i'm offering his girl a stuffed animal from the salvation army. A number of thoughts went through my head. I couldn't decide and he got in his car and drove away.

I'm so mad at myself for not doing it. It just seemed like they could have used a pick-me-up. Maybe my perception was wrong. But i kept seeing that little girls face in my head that night. What would you have done? What would you have thought if I would have approached you?

[Paros]

Oct. 30, 2009 at 5:56 PM

I would have reacted the same as you if I were in the same situation as you. If you would have approached me and wanted to give the dog to my son I would have thought it is very kind and nice and generous of you and would have accepted that you give it to my son..

[meriana]

Oct. 30, 2009 at 7:12 PM

I did something similar once.  We were leaving the fair grounds and a man with his little boy were walking near us. The little boy saw the Yugioh poster my son had won....he asked how my son had gotten it and talked about Yugioh with him as we walked. His dad mentioned that his son had tried to get a poster like that...you could just see this little guy was so disappointed he hadn't gotten one. Well I had some Yugioh cards we weren't going to be needing in my car...since they had parked fairly close to us, I asked his dad if I could give the boy one or two. I found two hologram cards for him.  That little boy was so thrilled and his dad thanked us several times....it made the boys day. I'm so glad I offered them.

[angiewith2]

Oct. 30, 2009 at 7:37 PM

Aw that's nice meriana. I'm glad you didn't hesitate like i did

(Original Poster)

[meriana]

Oct. 31, 2009 at 10:56 AM

Angie,

Oh I have hesitated before and not approached the person. Sometimes you just really don't know what to do because there are those who, being sensitive about their circumstances, tend to be a bit offended at such offerings.  Although I kinda think its usually more embarrassment than offense. It can be hard to put yourself out there too. It's really kind of sad that because of the way the world is, we all have a tendency to hesitate in these situations. In a perfect world, it wouldn't be that way but the world is not perfect and neither are we.