It was a rainy day. 

I had just finished work, and I stopped by a Burger King for something to eat. 

On my way out, I noticed a woman speaking harshly to a young man sitting at the entrance. 

He’d asked her for a cup of coffee. 

Hearing her berate him, I thought for a moment. And I went back. 

I wasn’t trying to show I'm a good person—sometimes the heart just speaks to us. 

When she was finished, I walked up to him to let him know I could see he was in need and we’ve all been there. 

Then I told the young man I’d love to get him something to eat. 

“But,” he said, “look, I’m dirty.” 

“Your dirtiness doesn’t matter,” I told him. 

As human beings, we perceive everything through our sight—and it makes us judge good and bad. 

So we have to see from within. Because our heart dictates our compassion for other humans. 

My name is Gerardo Ayala, and I am Warehouse Manager at Shelter Partnership, where I’ve worked for almost 40 years. 

Shelter Partnership manages a warehouse where we collect donations and surplus inventory from corporations. We then distribute these supplies to local nonprofits that help people experiencing homelessness across LA County. 

To me and to countless others, Shelter Partnership represents opportunity, a second chance. 

I came to the United States alone at age 14 and grew up in the Hollywood area, where I met a lot of good people who helped me survive. 

I started going to school but didn’t finish because I didn’t have relatives or any support system. So, a sister from the church I attended helped me get my first job. 

And even though I didn’t finish high school, I was always very hardworking. It was because of my dedication and positive attitude as a valet attendant that my now boss recognized me and offered me a job at her nonprofit. 

Despite never working at a warehouse, I started managing this one. 

Despite never driving a forklift, I learned how to drive one by watching workers at other warehouses after my shift. 

And when the warehouse next door donated their heavy-duty shelving structures, I figured out how to assemble them by observing the shelves at Costco despite never having built one before. 

I came to the United States with nothing. Others’ compassion has helped me deal with my traumas, and I live my life trying to offer others the same. 

When I see a person living on the side of the freeway, I step out of my car to help. At jury duty, I told the judge I couldn’t condemn. After getting to know the person staying at the shelter next door, I helped him get a job cleaning our warehouse. 

So when I saw the woman berating the young man at Burger King, my heart was telling me we can’t destroy someone more who is already feeling destroyed. 

Nobody, nobody, nobody in the world is perfect. But also nobody, nobody, nobody has the right to judge. Nor judge anybody when we can’t see the whole picture. 

And even if we can see, no. 

Shelter Partnership (SP) collects corporate and individual donations to distribute supplies to local nonprofits that provide critical services for people experiencing homelessness across LA County. To learn more or support a person experiencing homelessness, please visit https://www.shelterpartnership.org/product-donation-distribution. 

Sincerely, 

Gerardo Ayala 
Warehouse Manager 
Shelter Partnership