On Thanksgiving day, I had family in town and decided to make a donut run to collect a dozen saturated fat sugar bombs for the crew. I didn’t set out with the intent of helping the homeless, nor did I expect to see a Christmas miracle.

Overcoming a bad experience with homeless

The best donut shop near me is in the hood. It is a quasi-gentrified area up Main Street just outside of downtown. They have great donuts and kolaches and the proprietor is friendly. What more could one ask for in a good donut shop?

Once, I made the mistake of driving my convertible there with the top down. Even though the car is nearly twenty years old, it still looks good. When I parked, I noticed a homeless-looking lady hanging around the parking lot, and she apparently noticed me.

When I came out with my donuts, she asked for money. I declined, referred her to the Christian homeless shelter, and got in my car. She then walked over to my door and insisted I give her money. Again, I declined and directed her to the shelter.

She then cussed me out and walked behind my car so I couldn’t back out. After I threatened to call the police, she moved, and I was able to back out, but when I drove back past her to exit the parking lot she threw her tumbler into the hood of my shiny convertible.

This donut store is so good, though, I was willing to risk another harrowing encounter with the homeless to secure these breakfast delights on this Thanksgiving day.

The homeless miracle

This time, as I parked my car, I noticed a homeless man in a wheelchair next to the door of the donut shop. I didn’t make eye contact — I know better from experience — and he didn’t say anything. After collecting an assorted dozen and walking back to my car, I started to think.

I had a dozen donuts; the family wouldn’t miss one. I wouldn’t be giving this man money to buy alcohol or drugs. It was Thanksgiving, and after all, he was in a wheelchair.

So, I backed out, pulled my up to the curb, and asked him if he wanted a donut. He nodded in the affirmative. Then I turned to the box of donuts in my passenger seat and grabbed him a cinnamon cake donut, and when I turned back, he had gotten out of his wheelchair and walked!

And not just a little. He was able to walk all the way over to my car. He then grabbed the donut, and walked all the way back to his wheelchair. It was a Christmas miracle!

The strange thing was that he didn’t seem surprised by his newfound mobility. Maybe he was in shock. Who knows how long he had been the wheelchair . . . 30 minutes, an hour?

And who would have thought a cinnamon cake donut could heal someone?

What you can do to help

Do you want to be helping the homeless during Christmas?

Resist the urge to give them money or food on the street. Chances are you just enabling them to remain on the street.

Instead, learn where the nearest homeless shelter is, preferably one run by a Christian ministry, and give them your money.Then, when a homeless person asks you for money, direct them to the homeless shelter you support.

Chances are, they already know about it but don’t want to comply with requirements imposed by the shelter. They will say something like, “They make you get an ID,” or “I’ve already been there,” or will give you some other excuse. Then they will move on because they know you know the game.

But sometimes, and it is not that often, someone will politely thank you and head off in the direction of the shelter. Then you will know you have truly helped someone.

And when that happens with the homeless, there is a chance for a real Christmas miracle. GS