“Dear PoPville,
Understandably, we can be weary of strangers coming to our doors soliciting services. I wanted to share a positive experience to encourage you all to support a community member.
I live on 3rd st NW. For context, I live in a row house with a few roommates and out front yard isn’t very well kept. Last week a middle age African American man came up to the house around 5pm and offered to clean up the front yard and side walk. He said his name is Malik and that he is homeless and needed money for an appointment. He said he could do it right then, it would take him an hour and that he would charge $20 cash. I accepted his offer and went to get the cash from an ATM.
Malik did a great job cleaning my front yard.
He brought a broom and a rake and completed the job in about an hour. After completing the work we spoke briefly about his difficult life circumstances.
I paid him the $20 cash and also provided him with a $20 Starbucks gift card and some non perishable snacks I had available.
Above is a photo of Malik’s hard work. I wish I had before photos so you could see the mess he dealt with.
If middle age black man named Malik (possibly wearing a black puffer jacket) comes to your door offering to do some yard work, PLEASE consider accepting his services. He did great work and is definitely a hard working man in need.”