She had been living at the homeless shelter with her son for a while. Her son has special needs, and life has been a challenge, especially since the two became homeless. For 14 years prior they had lived in another San Luis Valley community, but circumstances changed, and they found themselves homeless.

A few weeks ago she was washing her clothes at Southside Suds, about a block away from the homeless shelter in Alamosa. Before she was finished, an emergency arose with her son, and she left suddenly to deal with it, leaving her clothes in the washing machines.

She didn’t have a chance to go back to Southside Suds for nearly three weeks. When she did, she found that the staff had placed her clothes in the dryers, folded them and kept them safe for her until she could return to retrieve them … and asked for no compensation for doing so!

With all of the trauma in her life, she was overwhelmed with such thoughtfulness and kindness.

She said she truly had something to be thankful for on Thanksgiving.

* * * * *

A senior citizen was in a vulnerable situation, feeling alone and not knowing what recourse she could take for help.

Colorado State Representative Donald Valdez learned of her situation. It wasn’t a big issue like taxes or water. It wasn’t a piece of legislation to review and approve. It wasn’t a rally or a public meeting to attend.

It was one lonely, overwhelmed senior citizen whose problems he might not even be able to address in his official capacity. Helping her would gain him no notoriety, no award, maybe not even another vote.

But he wanted her to know he was there for her, and if there was anything he could do, he wanted to try.

Just knowing that, and knowing someone else cared and she wasn’t in this situation alone anymore, meant everything to her.

* * * * *

Let’s all make this a season of a little more kindness.