Be a street Santa

It’s hard this time of year, no matter who you are and how you live, not to feel like a Scrooge as you wend your way past the homeless, the sidewalk bodies, heading to your job, the next holiday party, your own warm home.

So instead of walking head down, instead of expending emotional energy blocking out the background “noise” of human suffering, take a moment -- and just a little effort -- to give a gift to a street person this Christmas. It is a simple, profound act of power, kindness, rebellion and joy.

Think about it. When you personally give a gift to a homeless person, you aren’t playing Santa -- you are Santa. I’m a doctor who treats the homeless, and I can promise you, no one else is likely to drop off a present out of the blue to the huddle of human misery you pass by every day. You will be the Santa of their holiday season. Wear the red trousers with pride!

It’s easy. No one on Earth is easier to buy for than the homeless. Wherever you shop, practical, sturdy presents are widely available and cheap. It’s the opposite of the person-who-has-everything dilemma. Imagine it -- a pair of mittens from a big-box store can transform someone’s day. Men’s large sweat pants are a good idea -- gender and size neutral. Bungee cords or duct tape are good for transporting -- daily -- your life’s possessions. A fleece throw (try Ikea) or a heat-retaining foil blanket could actually save someone’s life on a cold winter night.

You don’t even have to wrap your gift. In fact, giving a bright, shiny present to a homeless person makes him or her a target for assault or robbery. There’s a real reason why homeless people quickly whisk away valuable donations of all kinds -- the streets are not safe. A discreet drop-off in an old plastic bag is the best way to go -- easy for you and good for your giftee. If you want, you can include a simple gift card inside (“From Me, to You”).

And in case the homeless scare you, don’t worry, you don’t have to engage your giftee in an awkward conversation. Just approach briskly, pause briefly next to the cardboard/blanket/cup on the sidewalk, give the giftee a short “howdy” nod and drop your present in midstride. Keep in mind, though, that when you drop and go, it’s important to make eye contact to let your giftee know your present is intentional. Otherwise you might get chased by a homeless person who’s trying to return your “dropped” package.

Then, after you’ve turned the corner, sneak a look back. What you’ll discover is that humans, even if we’re left out in the open, with voices running through our heads, all deal with presents the same way. In the end, opening a gift is a universal act. The sight of someone sitting on the sidewalk, hunched and pyramid-shaped in an effort to stay warm, pulling items out of your bag as a huge smile blooms -- it will warm your heart for days.

So give personally, give simply, give quickly and cheaply. It will take care of that piercing noise of misery that’s reaching painful levels right about now, against the jingle of frenetic holiday consumer cheer. It will have a positive effect on the quality and longevity of your life. (Scientists have proved it: Altruism is good for you.)

When you take the trouble to give a gift to a street person, without waiting or asking for thanks, it loosens that hard knot we all carry inside when we see the homeless. It gives us back a small bit of our battered compassion and connects us with those around us. It can even get us through some tough times of our own.

Jan Gurley is a physician who sees patients at the Tom Waddell Clinic for the homeless in San Francisco. Her writing has appeared in Salon, Britain’s Daily Mail and the San Francisco Chronicle Sunday magazine. A version of this piece also appears on her website, docgurley.com.