Selling Balloons: 85-Year-Old, Working Hard
Donation protected
I originally shared this on Facebook and when I shared it, I wasn't expecting friends to reach out and say that they wanted to send me money to pass on to him. It hurt when I first saw and interacted with him, and I didn't stop to think that it would impact others as well.
The donations friends have sent me via Zelle or Paypal, I will pass to him, just as I will pass all donations that come from here. I know I will be seeing him as he mentioned being local, and as he said he would come back for meals that I offered him. For accountability purposes, I'll either record a video or go live on Facebook.
He's 85 years old, he starts his day early, it's getting hotter outside, and he walks the streets, step by step, to make an earnest living. Not that begging is a bad thing, but he isn't doing that, he isn't stealing. He is 85 years old and working; he's a role model. Let's thank him.
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I was on my way to work on Thursday morning (June 4th), it must have been 7:45 am, and from a distance, I saw an elderly man crossing the street billowed by a bunch of balloons - the types sold in plazas in Mexico, carnivals, and festivals.
Carrying laptops, Wi-Fi hotspots and some other things, my hands and arms all of a sudden felt heavier. I crossed the street again and thought of what I could do. I wanted to give him money but I don't carry cash. I walked to him, asked if he lived near by, and if he could pass by in the afternoon. I ordered him some food and had some cash ready for him. We tested him for COVID, gave him some masks and spoke for a bit.
In Spanish, I asked him for his age and he said, "Te lo voy a decir en Inglés," (I'll tell it to you in English) and continued to say "Eighty-five" (85). This man is 85 years old. 85. He is out there at 7 am, trying to earn an honest living, step by step walking, hunched over by the amount of goods he sells. If that isn't resilience and hard work, I'm not sure I know what is.
People in black and brown communities are (and have been) struggling. Tired, angry, and exhausted of being tired and angry but they persist. Help, support, be an advocate.
The donations friends have sent me via Zelle or Paypal, I will pass to him, just as I will pass all donations that come from here. I know I will be seeing him as he mentioned being local, and as he said he would come back for meals that I offered him. For accountability purposes, I'll either record a video or go live on Facebook.
He's 85 years old, he starts his day early, it's getting hotter outside, and he walks the streets, step by step, to make an earnest living. Not that begging is a bad thing, but he isn't doing that, he isn't stealing. He is 85 years old and working; he's a role model. Let's thank him.
--
I was on my way to work on Thursday morning (June 4th), it must have been 7:45 am, and from a distance, I saw an elderly man crossing the street billowed by a bunch of balloons - the types sold in plazas in Mexico, carnivals, and festivals.
Carrying laptops, Wi-Fi hotspots and some other things, my hands and arms all of a sudden felt heavier. I crossed the street again and thought of what I could do. I wanted to give him money but I don't carry cash. I walked to him, asked if he lived near by, and if he could pass by in the afternoon. I ordered him some food and had some cash ready for him. We tested him for COVID, gave him some masks and spoke for a bit.
In Spanish, I asked him for his age and he said, "Te lo voy a decir en Inglés," (I'll tell it to you in English) and continued to say "Eighty-five" (85). This man is 85 years old. 85. He is out there at 7 am, trying to earn an honest living, step by step walking, hunched over by the amount of goods he sells. If that isn't resilience and hard work, I'm not sure I know what is.
People in black and brown communities are (and have been) struggling. Tired, angry, and exhausted of being tired and angry but they persist. Help, support, be an advocate.
Organizer and beneficiary
Miguel Blancarte,
Organizer
Chicago, IL
Abel Roman
Beneficiary