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It Could be a Beautiful Place
They really shine this time of year. Maybe it's the season or maybe people notice more during the holidays. In one day, I read about two heroes to humanity. One is an anonymous donor from Kansas City, Missouri. They call him "The Secret Santa". Every Christmas, he shows up at homeless shelters, food banks and other places where people in need go for help. He hands $100 bills to those in need. This year he traveled to parts of New York and New Jersey, where many lost every thing to hurricane Sandy. Escorted by a police motorcade made up of policemen from both New York and New Jersey, plus FBI agents and former agents from around the country, Secret Santa visited the hardest hit areas and distributed $100,000 to those in need. That same day, I read about a man who has much less than Secret Santa to give away. On November 14, 2012, New York Police Officer Lawrence DePrimo was on counter terrorism patrol at Times Square, in the center on Manhattan, New York. As he patrolled the square, he noticed a homeless man sitting on the sidewalk. His feet were bare - no shoes or socks. Officer DePrimo was heavily dressed but was still cold that night. He wore two pairs of socks and to fend off the cold. He walked up to the man, asked him for his shoe size, went inside a nearby shoe store and told the clerk, "There's a man outside with no shoes or socks. He needs help. I don't care about the cost, but give me a pair of boots and socks for him." The clerk allowed Officer DePrimo to use his police discount to purchase a pair of socks and waterproof boots for the man. DePrimo paid seventy-five dollars, walked outside, knelt beside the man and handed him the new socks and winter boots. The man's face glowed with delight as he accepted the gift. Officer DePrimo did this with no thought of being recognized for his kindness. The daughter of a former policeman, Jennifer Foster, who was visiting Times Square from Arizona that night, witnessed the event and took a picture that tells a story that many will never forget - a kind man giving from his own savings to a man who was cold and had nothing. Jennifer sent the photo to the New York Police department, who posted it on their Facebook page. Since then, the photo has gone viral and Officer DePrimo's kindness received the praise he deserved. What would this world be like with more people like Secret Santa's and officer DePrimo's. It could be a beautiful place. Copyright © 2012 <heartsandhumor at gmail.com> All Rights Reserved |
