The world today is not the world I remember when I was younger. Things move at a faster pace, people are always in a hurry to get to the next thing. We tend to forget how to slow down or how to do for others unselfishly. This was the plight of a good friend our family, Chris Comblo.
Chris, a 42-year-old utility worker, lives with his wife Rachel in Norwalk, Conn. They share their lives with a dog named Sasha who would be considered more of a child then a pet. Chris, feeling a bit lost in his life, was searching for meaning in this crazy world we live in.
Chris told me he had prayed to be shown what he should do to give back to this world. Shortly after turning his plight over to a higher power he was driving down a street on a cold winter day and saw a group of people standing at a bus stop. It wasn't the best section of town and the first thing Chris noticed was how cold and unhappy these people looked. It touched Chris's heart when he saw the looks upon their faces -- a little lost and not smiling. That was when Chris got the idea to at least help them keep warm. Chris stopped at a nearby gas station and purchased gloves and hats for each person who was at that bus stop.
Chris drove back to the bus stop and went to each person and handed them a pair of gloves and a hat. One person in particular was touched -- his face went from one of sadness and discomfort to a big warm smile. He hugged and thanked Chris, and from that moment on Chris knew this was how he could help people.
Last year, another gentleman at a bus stop was the recipient of a hat and gloves. He told Chris he was going through a divorce and lost everything including his job. When Chris gave him the hat and gloves it restored his faith in life and people, and gave him hope.
Chris and Rachel now save their money to buy hats and gloves. While out driving, if Chris sees people along the road that look cold, or look like they could use a helping hand, he will stop and give them a hat and gloves. Chris and Rachel have already handed out almost 1,000 hats and gloves this season. Chris has taken his own money and gotten a few donations through his website www.igloveyou.org. He also drops off hats and gloves at homeless shelters and St. Luke's Lifeworks in Stamford, a battered women's shelter that houses children living with HIV and their mothers.
Chris, whose been featured on News 12 CT as a "Hometown Hero," has inspired others to take up the cause of I Glove you. There is a woman in Massachusetts who is spreading some warmth with hats and gloves and another in New York City.
Chris also participates with Midnight Run, a volunteer organization dedicated to finding common ground between the housed and the homeless. In over 1,000 relief missions per year, Midnight Run volunteers from churches, synagogues, schools and other civic groups distribute food, clothing, blankets and personal care items to the homeless poor on the streets of New York City. The late-night relief efforts create a forum for trust, sharing, understanding and affection. That human exchange, rather than the exchange of goods, is the essence of the Midnight Run mission. Midnight Run is not a solution to homelessness.
Contact Chris if you would like to join Chris's efforts in handing out hats and gloves in your area or if you are interested in participating in a midnight run with I Glove You. If you would like to donate, please visit www.igloveyou.org.
You can also contact Chris at ChrisComblo@yahoo.com or on Facebook