Driver looks carefully at barefoot woman boarding the bus — her quick response stunned other passengers
Wearing shoes outdoors seems like a given for many, but for some homeless people, this simple part of life is a luxury that they can't afford due to the lack of funds and resources. It was a saddening reality for one woman on the Minneapolis Metro Transit, per CBS News. As she waved her hands in the air, hoping to stop a bus, she was noticed by the bus driver, Jayne Arendt-Verhelst. The driver was astonished to see the woman barefoot, casually making her way into the bus. A few moments of pondering and a quick response thereafter had people struck with surprise.
Verhelst went against the bus policy and abruptly stopped the bus in the middle of the road for the woman after she saw her waving. When she entered the bus, the driver couldn’t help but get a look at her from head to toe. "When I opened up the door, that's when I saw her," she said. The footage captured the woman in baggy clothing and messed up hair, trying her best to make her way onto the bus. According to the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, millions experience homelessness. Out of these, tens of thousands of people die due to poor conditions from being homeless. Extreme weather and plights like this woman’s are one of the conditions.
The driver noted that the woman appeared to be homeless, but seeing her without shoes on that super hot day was just not something she could brush off. However, there was one more thing that pierced the driver’s heart. "I can't imagine what it's like walking around with bare feet on the hot pavement. And nobody sees you. She's just kind of invisible, you know?" she recounted. Having been a bus driver for 18 years, Verhelst might have had quite a few experiences. However, this one surely touched her heart because her next action was remarkable. She took off her shoes and gave them to the woman.
"I knew that you're not supposed to drive in your socks, it's a big no-no, but I couldn't help it," she remarked. Several passengers noticed the driver’s gesture toward the woman. For some, it went unnoticed; to others, it wasn’t so important. However, for a few, the act left a mark, a lesson in kindness — to look around and empathize. A passenger named Sarah Seldon was specifically touched by the act. Having been homeless before, she resonated with the silent struggles of the woman and with the kindness of the driver. "It really affected me because it was like, oh my gosh, she sees this woman," Seldon said.
Verhelst was sure to contact her supervisor and inform her about her abrupt stop and what followed. "And I told her what I did. And she (the supervisor) said, 'Well, you don't have far back to the garage, so continue,’” the driver recalled. @davidhouse7189 said, “As someone who was homeless for four months, you feel alone and invisible at times. The bus driver is an angel, so kind.” @carol-mccullough-kuchar4782 added, “Compassion is so important.” @rosemartinez1116 remarked, “Beautiful person! Touched my heart!”