Don’t Walk By, Feb 2021

Until quite recently, more often than not, I WOULD walk by. I would not see the person sitting on the street with a sign asking for something, and even if I did, I would not know what to say, or how to help. Instead I would make no eye contact and avoid the person . This February, we participated in an annual citywide outreach called Don’t Work By (DWB). Typically, groups of volunteers meet our neighbors living on the streets, and connect them to essential services. It was our first time, and this time it was done differently since it was P(pandemic)DWB. Instead of bringing our neighbours back to one location for a warm meal, and medical and other services, we had to bring resources to them. For 4 consecutive Saturdays for 4-5 hours each time, we lugged around 3 -5 backpacks each with blankets, toiletries, granola bars, resource sheets, masks and socks; we covered every avenue, cross street and street of a certain section of the city to ensure that we did not miss anyone. The verdict? It was tough both emotionally and physically but was worth every minute for Mr. S who broke down in tears and said he had been sleeping in and around Central Park for 14 years and “did not want to do this anymore”. He said he was “so alone”; thankfully we were able to get him into a shelter and provide access to a social worker; and for Mr. C who then came for 3 weeks after to the NYC Relief Bus to get access to services that he had not previously been able to get any help for; and for Mr V. who was swearing away on his zimmer frame trying to get into Dunkin Donuts as they blocked him from entering until we showed up...oh what a backpack and sandwich can do for the spirit; and for Max who had what seemed like the contents of a whole apartment under a bridge but really wanted us to connect him to housing services; oh and for the guy who knelt down, raised his hands and prayed for us before he headed into the shelter that had been organized for him. We went into this thinking that it was for just 4 Saturdays and now every time we see a neighbour on the street, we each hear a little voice saying “Don’t Walk By”.