You've probably seen it by now. The picture of the New York City police officer giving a shoeless, homeless man boots on a cold night. It's one of those iconic pictures that struck a chord with America.
It's a nice photograph depicting an even nicer gesture. I'm happy to report that it has spawned some copycat acts throughout New York. I think we're all (myself included) too quick to judge the homeless as drug addicted people, not looking for help. This is not always the case, as many are veterans, suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or some other form of mental illness. There are also many homeless families out there. In this economy, it's not too hard to fall between the cracks. And some people are too proud to ask for help.
It turns out that this man's family had no idea he was homeless until they saw the picture. He reportedly calls them once a year to tell them he is safe. He last called around New Year's 2012. I also read where his two brothers were both successful professionals. Something went wrong in his life and hopefully he'll get back on track.
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