It was Starbucks Sunday at lunch today. Once a month the Sumas Way (near the Super 8) Starbucks provides coffee to the Open Door Church to serve with the lunch the church provides. Not only do we get the high octane of Starbucks but there is lots of coffee for seconds and thirds. On a cool rainy day such as today was, hot coffee puts a nice warm glow in your stomach.

I would be most remiss if I did not mention Cobs Bread and their weekly donation to the Open Door of bakery goods for the sandwiches they make. In particular I must mention the occasional special treat that comes in the form of leftover sweet items mmmmmmmmmmmmm. For an epicurean delight of the baked goods variety I can attest to the tastiness of our local Cobs and to their generosity in giving support to different groups the other six days of the week as well.

Although I must acknowledge that Costco’s Kirkland brand of apple caramel pie and shortbread cookies are pretty tasty, especially when hunger has sharpened the appetite and being homeless in the cold and wet weather has your body demanding extra fuel, extra calories, to burn for warmth.

A community often does not see all the little ways that franchisees and corporate citizens contribute to the community not just through big dollar donations but in the day to day, month to month contributions to local groups like the Open Door Seventh Day Adventists who use this generosity in order that there might be a little less hunger stalking the streets and homeless of Abbotsford.

So give Cobs bread a try, the great flavour is well worth the trip and take time to tell them “that homeless guy who writes all those letters and other stuff” said to say thank you for being generous and helping feed the hungry. If you get the chance, tell management at Costco “good job” for giving back to our community.

Swing by the Sumas Way Starbucks and say thank you as a citizen of Abbotsford for being part of the community. You might also want to work into the conversation a suggestion that since that is the favourite Starbucks of “that homeless guy who writes all that stuff” they might want to consider donating a Venti or two a day to fueling his fingers ….

Thank you to these and to all the businesses that give back to the community through their generosity, from homlelessinabbotsford and the many others who benefit from and appreciate their kindness and thoughtfulness.

Have you found yourself forced to stand in the wind and rain at a bus stop you could have sworn use to have a bench and shelter? Your memory may not have been playing tricks on you.

I was into Community Services and noticed as I walked by that people were standing around in the rain. I seemed to recall that when the bus routes changed and the street in front of community services became a transit exchange they had put in benches and shelters.

I was commenting about this over lunch and someone at a nearby table informed me that the city has taken to removing bus benches and shelters to prevent the homeless from seeking shelter there. I am not sure whether any one at City Hall could follow a train of thought far enough to realize it also leaves “the right type” of citizens standing in the cold winter rain.

Don’t want them sleeping on bus benches, in bus shelters, doorways, parks, woods, in neighbourhoods etc? Once we are finished with the bus benches and shelters what next? Clear cutting parks and woods? Bulldozing neighbourhoods?

Instead of wasting time, energy and money trying to drive them away from where you do not want them causing problems for citizens try rational behaviour. Decide where you do want them and put in place the facilities to draw them there.

Because we all know what happens with the best laid plans ….

My conversational kibitzer was unfazed by the city’s actions as he just relocated to one of Jimmy’s Places. Those nice shelters and benches built for advertising by Mr. Patterson. With advertising revenue at stake they are sacrosanct and untouched. So while the average citizen stands in the cold rain the homeless, with a fine eye for economics and human nature relocate to Jimmy’s.

Thank you Mr. Patterson. I do not suppose you could find time in your busy schedule to acquaint our local and provincial politicians with the reality of market forces and human behaviour?