In an effort to help the homeless people living near Cactus Park, a woman from Lakeside put up a “Goodies to Share” cabinet for them that contains various comfort items.
Barbara DeYoung explained that she was inspired by the “Little Free Libraries” she notices in her neighbors’ yards.
Watch to learn more about the goodies to share cabinet below!
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Video credit: Rumble
“You just go very freely and get something. It’s just people sharing with you,” she says. “It’s a very nice feeling, and I thought for sure they would love that.”
The cabinet was placed near the San Vincente Creek running behind Cactus Park. It’s an area that has seen numerous homeless people setting up encampments.
“I felt these are wonderful human beings. But they have problems. They have situations they can’t control,” DeYoung explains. “But they can read a book in the evening. They can play games, whatever they need to do.”
But instead of food, DeYoung has filled the cabinet with comfort items such as books, wipes, blankets, playing cards, and other items that homeless people normally don’t have access to at shelters or service offices.
DeYoung explained that because a lot was already being done to feed their bodies, she wanted to feed their souls as well.
It seems DeYoung is onto something because the cabinet has already become a hit. Just a few days after setting it up she already had to restock it. And a few minutes after the cabinet was refilled, cameras caught a man striding up from the creek bed to get some wipes.
The man wished to remain anonymous but did say that he felt good knowing that people do care.
DeYoung doesn’t think her kind gesture will draw more homeless people to the area but it will at least make life a little more bearable for those homeless who are already there.
“I don’t think boxes of raisins are going to bring armies of people here,” she says. “But the people that are here, I think they could have a little respect from us. A little love, a little care.”
Replaced!