She accidentally begs homeless man for money

From staff reports

Christian Women’s/Christian Men’s Job Corps of North Carolina’s board president, Jan Cartledge, collects aluminum cans from a dumpster during a poverty simulation exercise in Birmingham, Ala.

Photo by Julie Walters

WMU

Knowing you can advocate better for something you understand Woman's Missionary Union in Birmingham, Ala., hosted a poverty simulation attended by several North Carolina Baptist women.

Participants had a "24-hour plunge" into poverty on the streets of Birmingham, during which they had to complete various tasks, such as finding a meal, writing a letter to a person in prison, rescuing something useful from a trash can and asking a stranger for money.

Jan Cartledge, president of North Carolina WMU's Christian Women's/Christian Men's Job Corps of NC Board, asked a man in the park where she could find some breakfast at a shelter. He pointed to the church down the block and recited their menu.

Then she asked the man for a quarter. As he searched his pockets Cartledge saw a suitcase and duffel bag by the picnic table, and realized she had just asked a homeless man for money.

She quickly told him not to worry about the quarter and that she would get one from someone else. He apologized and wished he could help. She tried to change the subject and offered him a piece of gum. He took one piece and thanked her.

She went back to the picnic table still dumbfounded that she had asked a homeless man for a quarter.

A few minutes later, there was a tap on her shoulder. She turned around and the man was standing there with a nickel in his hand.

"This is for you," he said. "I want you to have this nickel."

Cartledge later learned his name is Richard, a college graduate and military veteran who at one time had a great job. One day he was diagnosed with schizophrenia but he refused his medicine.

Cartledge will continue to carry Richard's nickel with her as a reminder to give out of her abundance.

WMU-NC will host two 27-hour Intensive Poverty Simulation Experiences/Training in Raleigh May 30-31 and Aug. 22-23 from Friday noon-Saturday 3 p.m.

Participants will receive training that will enable them to return to their communities and replicate a similar experience. WMU hopes that simultaneous poverty simulations will take place across North Carolina Sept. 12-14.

(Compiled by Norman Jameson from first hand reports.)