The Power of Good

As I drove past the Goodwill of North Georgia sign over I-85 South and Piedmont Road last Saturday, I felt the impulse to stop by. I had not been to this Goodwill in years. It is one of the better ones in the Atlanta metropolitan area as it is located in one of the more affluent areas in town, Buckhead. Admittedly, I like to hunt down any "trashed" high-end items. Yet, I had very little luck on this particular day.

While I walked down the aisle, I saw a gentleman passing me by counterclockwise. I must admit, I wondered, "why is he looking at me so hard?" as I glanced over the shoes. As I turned into the next aisle, the gentleman met me; stopping me dead in my tracks. I was startled.

"Excuse me, ma'am," he said. "I was wondering if you could spare me a pair of pants?" he asked.

Instinctively, I lied. "I'm sorry sir, I don't have any cash on me," I politely tried to dismiss his request; and for good reason. I didn't know if he was trying to case me to rob me in the parking lot. Although I did have a wad of cash on me, I did not want him to see me go into my purse to retrieve any money.

"- Oh no ma'am, I'm not asking you for any money. I just need a pair of pants," he noted as he pointed to the back of his ripped jeans. He was ashamed and embarrassed as he tried to cover up the hole covering his buttocks. "I am on my way to work, and I cannot go to work like this!" he frantically stated.

I don't know what moved me to take action, but I carefully instructed, "take the pants up to the register and I'll be up there in a second to pay for them."

Moseying towards the register, I could not help but to panic. I was still unsure about his intentions for targeting me in the store. I must state, that I was more concerned about being potentially robbed than I was helping someone in need. So much so, that when I got to the register, I even informed the staff, "these pants are for the gentleman sitting over there," as I pointed towards the man who sat patiently on the bench in the front of the store.

I had no idea how much the pants were until they were scanned into the register. The original price was $7.99 but they were marked down to $0.79. My eyes widened as I couldn't believe the price. The price was so low the machine rounded it up to $2.00. I reached into my wallet and slyly pulled out a $10.00 to cover the purchase. I slid the money across the counter and eagerly waited to shove the change in my front pocket before he saw me receive the back my change.

I nervously walked towards the front door where the man was now standing. I handed him the pants. "Oh my God! Thank you so much, ma'am, I appreciate it. Thank you for giving me the time of day. I know this is Atlanta!" he smiled.

I stood in shock, not knowing what to say or do next. I smiled and said, "Have a good year, Sir," as he turned to walk out of the door.

Although I returned to scanning the Goodwill store as a hobby, I am reminded that there are people who need to shop at the Goodwill to find affordable clothing to meet their basic needs. As much as I listen to National Public Radio (NPR) and other forms of news, I am well aware that the face of the working poor and homeless has changed drastically. While many people are earning record-breaking income levels, there are still many people - like the gentleman at the store - who do not have one dollar to their name; and are trying to make ends meet.

Still, I cannot stop thinking about the guy in the store. I wish I responded differently to him. I feel as though I should have done more to help him. Not everyone who approaches you is seeking malicious intent. Yet, I am mindful that people can be soft targets for crime. While I have beat myself up for not going above and beyond, my family and friends have not allowed me to overlook the power of my goodwill.

I hope that the young man in the store never forgets that day and that he is inspired to continue to pay it forward even as I am inspired to do the same.