Homeless people deserve our love and compassion

Regarding columnist Dan Rodricks’ commentary “A backpack of joy for homeless children” (Oct. 27), backpacks of joy are about more than just food. They’re about compassion, and true love for one another.

There are some 7,856 homeless people in Maryland, including more than 2,100 In Baltimore City alone. Christian and Pamela Wilson, who started Heart’s Place Services, are doing something about that.

Their organization is only in Baltimore, but imagine it all over the U.S. and around the world. Their backpacks bring children unending joy, but the message behind them is what really matters. Mr. Christian started this program out of love.

There are more than half a million homeless people in America and their numbers continue to grow. They deserve our love and compassion. Whether it be giving them food or money, or simply talking to them with a smile on one’s face will make them feel better to be treated like human beings.

We need to mean it, too. We can’t just say “Here, take this, now get out of my sight.” It’s not just backpacks that should be all over the world but the love we show our fellow human beings, for which there is no substitute.

Amy Huggins