There Still Might Be Hope For Humanity – At Least Here in Evansville

I had a pretty unique experience last night…one that left me somewhat encouraged about humanity. Let me tell you my story about helping out someone who clearly needed assistance.

I was headed home from work, waiting to turn left onto Ohio Street from Riverside/Fulton. As I waited for the light, I looked up ahead just in time to see an older fella in a wheelchair moving along the sidewalk on the east side of Riverside up ahead of me. Next thing I know the guy’s chair tips over as he tries to get over a curb. He falls out of his chair and is lying on the ground, just feet from the traffic of Riverside Dr. He can’t get up and he’s not moving much.

There was no way I could see this and then just turn left and head home. I had to try and help. So I was able to get out of the turn lane, cross over two lanes and speed up to his location. I pulled up, rolled my window down and asked if he needed help. He said yes. So I stopped in the right-hand lane, turned on my hazards and hopped out. As I did that I noticed another car had stopped on the southbound side of Riverside. A young (compared to me) African American man was heading over to help too. We get this guy picked up and back in his wheelchair. We ask where he’s headed. He was trying to get back to his car which had run out of gas.

While we’re talking to him, another vehicle pulls into the parking lot near us and a young woman hops out to offer up her assistance. And a couple other cars slowed down as they passed to make sure everything was okay.

In the end, the young man offers to drive the older fella back to his car and I help put the wheelchair in the young woman’s SUV so she can follow back to the old man’s car. A really bad (possibly fatal) situation was avoided. Thank God.

Now the only reason I mention the fact that there was a young African American male and a young female involved is to drive home this point. There were three very different demographics represented there. A 40-year old white guy, a 30-year old (maybe) black guy and a mid-20’s white female…all just trying to help someone in need…someone who looked nothing at all like us. In a time when there seems to be so much division across our country, I was so encouraged, and quite frankly moved, to see and be a part of this situation.

So I guess I would wrap this up by asking you to do the same thing if given the chance. Keep your eyes up and look around at your fellow man everyonce in a while. Had I been looking at my phone I probably never would have seen this guy fall down. If you see someone in legitimate need of help, even if they don’t look like you, are you willing to stop what you’re doing and help? I hope so.

Thanks.