Vendor Writing

Change

BY NORMA B., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

When I’m out selling The Contributor, there’s always people who say things like, “All I have is a little bit of change, sorry.” My reply? “Don’t be sorry. Haven’t you heard? Every little bit helps!”

Recently when I was asked if I take coins, I said, “Of course I do!” They explained that some of my fellow vendors have said they only accept bills. I said, “Well the last time I checked, change makes dollars!”

Now I’ll admit that change can be cumbersome to deal with and there have been times when I got a crick in my neck from the weight of all that change. I mean, it is a lot heavier than bills, and honestly I love a good tip as much as anyone, but I keep thinking about what the majority of those with the change say when they stop: “This is ALL I have right now.”

Wow! What an honor! This is ALL they have on them and they shared it with me!

It also reminds me of an account in the Bible about the widow’s mite. Jesus watched as people were dropping money into the offering box at the

temple. The rich were giving out of their surplus, but he took note of a widow who dropped in two small coins of very little value and Jesus said she’d given more than the others because she’d given all she had. (The account is found at Mark 12:41-44 and Luke 21:1-4 for those who care to read it.)

The lesson here is never underestimate the value of your gift. They are ALL needed and very much appreciated!

On a much lighter note, there is another reason I don’t mind receiving change. As some of you may know from earlier writings, my Pop ran the local pool room in Ashland City, Tenn. for many years. What does this have to do with change? Well, when I was very young (preschool age) my Pop would come home with all this change, and he taught me how to count money that way. Four quarters make $1 and you need 10 stacks for the wrapper. Ten dimes make $1 and you need five stacks for the wrapper, etc.— you get the idea. It is one of the best memories I have of him. You might say it takes me back to a simpler happy time in my life.

So again, never underestimate the value of change! In my case, it’s worth far more than just the value of the coins.

Being Homeless

BY KATHY S., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

Being homeless is something I never thought I would be, but it happened. Before you judge a homeless person I urge you to think twice because as we are all learning, it could happen to anyone at any given moment. When Fred and I moved to Nashville, we became homeless. Sleeping wherever we could find a safe spot to lay our head down at night. Trying to stay warm in freezing weather, having to carry our belongings around with us day in and day out to keep them from getting stolen. There is someone always watching you because they are in need as well. Homelessness is what you make of it. I learned that people who have homes, cars, money, clothes and food on the tables every day and a warm bed to sleep in really look down on the homeless. They’re pointing fingers, laughing and making fun and could

care less if that person has or ever will get a meal. A lot of people who are homeless had money, a home, etc. but fell on hard times and have been this way because they don’t know how to pick themselves up and function anymore. People make the homeless feel unwanted, unloved, just totally worthless and I know because I felt that way at one point. When I was homeless I met some of the most kind hearted, spirited, loving people that I have ever met. Don’t degrade the homeless, take a few minutes out of your time to sit and talk to a homeless person. You will find that some are just like you. Smarter than you could imagine. They just need to know that people care, they do matter, they are someone. People with The Contributor show their compassion for the homeless every day. They provide them with the resources they need to get off the streets into homes and so much more. We need more people like them and Open Table Nashville. We are all God’s children. We should never treat anyone differently because they are homeless. “Love and Respect.”

One Regret

BY WILLIAM B., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

I’ve said quite a few times that I don’t regret being locked up to get off of drugs because I made them lock me up to get off of drugs. But I do regret one thing about it. I lost my mother and a brother while I was locked up and I couldn’t come out and say goodbye or see them. That’s one of the things that hurt me so bad. I had already made parole but they still wouldn’t let me come out. They wouldn’t give me a furlough so I didn’t get to say goodbye to my mom and brother.

My mother was kinda scared of me, too, because I used to have tattoos of horns on my head. When I got out of being locked up and making it off of drugs I saved up 200 dollars to have the horns done over with angel wings. Now I have angel wings on my head. I’m no angel but I’m no devil either. Little kids and elderly people, too were scared of me because I had those horns.

I didn’t know my brother was as sick as he was, but my mother, I knew she was in bad shape. She had COPD like I do.

When I got out, I was taken straight to the Room In The Inn by the law, custodial people. They just dropped me off, said ‘you’re on your own.’ I’ve been there eight years. I’ll be there nine years in April and I’ll be 14 years clean off of drugs and alcohol.

I did promise my momma when I talked to her on the phone the last time that I would get off of drugs and alcohol. I couldn’t keep going through what I was going through in my life. Not buying food, not buying the medicine I needed, neglecting to get sleep. When I decided to come off of it, I weighed less than 100 pounds. I just didn’t want to keep on ruining my life, and I was hurting family members and stealing from even my own kids. I hate to admit it but I even stole from my own kids because the drug I was on was so demanding. It was crack cocaine and I’m not bragging about it, I swear I’m not bragging. It helps to talk about it now. It helps me to remember what I went through. I know I don’t want to ever go back to drugs and alcohol.

I’ve come a long way in my life. I know I had to be locked up to get off of the drugs. Now that I’ve officially turned 72 I feel like my plan that the Lord has given me has really moved me quite a ways into his arms. I feel like I’m going to heaven when I die.