Midnight Run

Last night I was able to go on a Midnight Run. For those who don’t know what a Midnight Run is, it is when a group of about ten students go to Manhattan to feed the homeless.

We first meet at the cafeteria at 8 o’clock and start making 120 sandwiches. In each bag lunch we place 2 sandwiches, cookies, fruit, and a drink. At around 9 o’clock we start going through clothes that have been donated to give out to those that are on the street. We finally leave the school at around 9:30 and start our journey to Manhattan. Our night continues until midnight when we make our last stop. After that stop we head back to school at around 12:30- 1 o’clock.

Once in Manhattan, we go to a few stops where people know that we will be at. At the stops we hand each person a bag lunch. They are then able to get a hot cup of coffee and clothes if they would like, we even give out toiletries to them.

Although the food and clothes are important to them, they sometimes are just looking for someone to talk to for a while. Each person that we come in contact with is unique. They all have different stories of how they ended up on the streets. It always amazes me how strong these people are. Regardless of the burdens that they are faced with they still have very strong spirits.

On the first stop their was this one gentleman that came up to us and when we gave him a bag lunch, all he was able to say was Thank you, over and over again and he also said that he was starving. When we told him that he was able to get coffee and clothes he told us the food was enough. Right away he sat on the bench right there and devoured the sandwiches. We then asked him if he wanted another bag lunch and he accepted it and started to talk to us. He told us that he has stayed at a shelter but the food is awful there and the sandwiches were great. This man was so grateful that we have come like the rest but he had a charm to him.

On the last stop, there was this man that had such a personality. I couldn’t believe how strong it was. When we first mentioned that we were the Midnight Run crew, he was sitting on steps with no shoes on. He leapt up with a huge smile on his face and said, “ I aint no Eliot Spitzer… I’ll come to you with no shoes on.” He then proceeded to tell us that we were the only people that he would walk in his socks for as we were basically the highlight of their days. This made us feel honored that he was willing to come to us instead of him trying to get us to cater him.

Also on the final stop, there was a woman that came to us that had a cart with her and a cardboard box. It took up most of the sidewalk while we talked to her and gave her some food. There were a group of around 7 guys that walked up and when they say that she was homeless they stopped and stared. They exchanged looks and comments at one another and then walked around the van so that they didn’t have to cross her path. As they proceeded to walk by they continued to turn around and gesture that they were making ignorant comments about this lady. The crew all felt the urge to go up to them and ask them why they were so cruel to a woman that they didn’t even know.

I feel that I am so fortunate for everything that I have after talking to the people on the streets. This is something that I think everyone should have a part in at least once. Next time that you see someone on the streets that has it worse than you, be kind to them as they are also human just like you. Next time you see someone that lives on the street, offer them food. For both them and you, it will make your day for helping another human being. I feel bad for those guys that are so ignorant to realize that these people are someone’s mother, father, brother, sister, or friend and that this can happen to some one they know if something goes wrong in their life.