The holiday season often brings images of joy and family gatherings, but for some, this picture is far from reality.
Carmen Mendez from Anaheim, California, knows this all too well.
During a visit to Raising Canes with her boyfriend around Thanksgiving, she encountered a homeless woman asking for leftovers – a common sight in Carmen’s neighborhood.
Her heart goes out to these individuals.
Carmen told TODAY:
“I live in an area that’s not the greatest. Right outside my door, there are homeless people at the parks.”
She’s not just a bystander; she actively engages with the homeless, offering help and even a ride to shelters.
This deep empathy was evident when she noticed the homeless woman being coldly ignored at the fast food restaurant.
Carmen was so touched by the woman’s situation that she decided to give her her own food if she got the chance.
Her Facebook post reflects her deep compassion: “I hold them all with so much love.”
After her meal, Carmen looked for the woman but couldn’t find her.
It saddened her to see people so easily dismiss a person in need.
With only a few fries and a chicken strip left, she was about to throw away her food when the woman approached.
Carmen gave her the leftovers but felt a nagging discomfort, believing the woman deserved much better.
She explained on Facebook:
“As I was gonna throw away my one leftover chicken strip and like 5 fries I heard a very quite voice ask me if I had anything left. I turned around and it was her..l gave her my food and watched her sit and eat it…..but something didn’t feel right…I felt like a horrible human being feeding her my leftover chicken strip..she deserved so much more…”
Moved to do more, Carmen ordered a complete meal for her.
She even requested the staff to allow the woman to stay inside.
As the woman ate Carmen’s leftovers, the discomfort of other diners was apparent.
Carmen defended her by writing, “News flash people, not all homeless people smell like roses.”
The story took a touching turn when Carmen gave the woman the full meal.
The woman’s reaction was deeply moving – a mix of gratitude and surprise.
Carmen captured the moment beautifully:
“The look on her face said it all…I have never felt something like this…pure, real gratitude. That hug she gave me was like a hug I had never felt….those tears she shed were felt deep in my heart…I held her tight and let her let it out. I wasn’t repulsed by it….I just held her. And that is a moment I will never ever forget.”
Their embrace showed the power of human connection.
Unbeknownst to Carmen, her boyfriend had photographed this tender moment.
She later shared it on Facebook, touching the hearts of people across the internet.
Carmen’s experience sheds light on the often-misunderstood lives of the homeless.
She encourages us to see beyond our biases, reminding us that homelessness isn’t always a result of addiction or laziness.
Her story is a powerful call for empathy and understanding – and proves that a little bit of kindness can go a long way.
You can check out her full Facebook post below!
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