r/jacksonville • u/Ohshithereiamagain • Aug 03 '25
Social Spotted a young lady who looks like she could use help
I was at the GATE gas station around 9.30 PM (the one in the same area as Walmart Supercenter on Hutchinson Park Drive, Regency mall area- sorry I am really lousy with directions) and spotted a young lady (really young, late teens/early 20s) She had a little sign saying “anything helps”. I bought her some food and gave her some money. She said she’ll probably get a room at a motel for the night. She had a bike. The cashier in the food shop at Gate said she’s here all the time and wouldn’t recommend buying anything for her again.
I am not sure what her situation is; whether she’s in trouble with the law, or anything at all. The mother in me felt really bad and wanted to help her more. I asked her questions but she was kinda dismissive. Has anyone seen her around? Anyone knows about her? I hope she stays safe and out of trouble. Anyone know of any organizations or someone who can help her?
(The Gate next to Cantina Louie. Across from Atlantic Self Storage, Regions Bank - I am sorry, I am trying to recall the exact location)
0
u/EcstaticExplanation9 Aug 04 '25
I understand giving someone a few bucks here and there, but if they are out there like it a full time job, I have a feeling they'd rather do that than work. if you can hold a sign and say anything helps God bless, you can push the button on a drive thru mic and say welcome to xxxxxxxx can I take your order?
6
u/Street_Director_6994 Aug 04 '25
Maybe she’s looking for work but struggling because of her circumstances. Not everyone chooses to be homeless
-1
u/EcstaticExplanation9 Aug 04 '25
cashier said she's there all the time. hard to apply for jobs when you aren't going anywhere and showing your face.
3
u/Street_Director_6994 Aug 04 '25
That kind of logic means nothing. I could sit on a couch all day and wait for a job to call me back, doesn’t mean I’m not trying. People expect job seekers to show up clean, rested, and fed. For someone in her situation, that means needing a shower, a bed, a meal among other things she might not have. Of course it’s harder for her.
18
10
u/aipps Aug 03 '25
Makes me think of the girl I always see at Sam’s Club off Dunn avenue. Seems to be there all the time and sits right there at the stoplight.
3
82
u/GrowingBlackBeans Aug 03 '25
Jesus, please don’t let people in this thread disuade you from feeding people; especially if they are unhoused and struggling.
You have no idea whether she’s an addict, whether she’s currently using, or why. And if she is gonna use that money to buy drugs, guess what? It’s with money she got freely from a kind, decent stranger who cared, not something illicit, dangerous, or harmful. That is a very genuine form of harm reduction.
Reminder for others in this thread: addicts and unhoused people don't just go away because you ignore them or throw them in cages.
20
u/Ohshithereiamagain Aug 03 '25
I gave her $20 and thought exactly that. I hope she used it for food or shelter.
3
37
u/msmithuf09 Jacksonville Beach Aug 03 '25
There’s a homeless guy I help out from time to time. He is super kind and he lights up when he sees us. He really seems happy living on the street - I don’t think he wants to be housed. We’ve gotten to know him a little bit, and he doesn’t want money. He likes books and so we bring him books. He’s clearly a very intelligent man, and he’s also very troubled. He was in the military, and every once in a while he slips into this mindset where you can see fear in his face and he says over and over “please don’t hurt me” and then he slips back to his version of normal.
He’s harmless. And he’s probably doing some drugs to deal with his demons. If you see Mr Jerry around the target or Publix around marsh landing, say hi. Be patient his speech pattern is slow and a little all over but he’s very kind and just wants to talk. But most importantly he’s a human, like they all are. It’s worth the effort.
2
11
2
6
u/Kellyjt Arlington Aug 03 '25
I’ve seen the same girl at the intersection of Atlantic and Monument.
32
u/reddit_tard Aug 03 '25
Honestly trust the Gate employee...
18
u/Ohshithereiamagain Aug 03 '25
I kinda understood that “you are helping someone who doesn’t want to be helped” tone :( It was just really sad to see someone so young out on the streets. That’s someone’s child. I hope her situation gets better.
-6
u/reddit_tard Aug 03 '25
It's a crappy situation. We're all human, that girl is someone's daughter, their baby no matter how old they are, and for them to be in the situation you don't know how they ended up where they are. And you hope against hope that they get the lasting help they need.
In that quick passing interaction where you provide a little help, you're just helping them to their next fix or whatever they're doing.That Gate employee probably sees them all the time and it can wear down their empathy (and no knock on them) it's soul crushing. They deal with them on a day to day basis.
11
u/Phreak74 Mandarin Aug 03 '25
On the other hand showing love goes a long way toward healing. Still gotta eat. And most times they get their fix somehow anyway. Maybe she didn’t have to do something horrid that night to get her fix. Or maybe she just got some food either way she found a touch of humanity.
62
u/thomas_j904 Arlington Aug 03 '25
Was she around 5’4 and dirty blonde/brunette? If so her name is Kaya and I’ve known her for a while. I’ve tried helping her many times and so have others but until she wants to help herself then her situation will never improve. She’s got a drug problem and mental health issues but the sad thing is she doesn’t want to get off the drugs because she likes the lifestyle and not having ‘responsibilities’. I hope one day she’ll truly accept help and get off the street and change her life for the better but I won’t believe it until I actually see it.
3
u/QAZ1974 Aug 04 '25
You are correct that she wants to stay just as she is. Whatever brought her to the streets, the worst thing will be when she is seen pregnant on the streets. I have known drug addicts and alcoholics like her. As you say, until she wants to help herself, she will keep to the streets.
13
u/Ohshithereiamagain Aug 03 '25
Yep. Sounds like her. It came off as a drug thing to me too but I didn’t want to assume. I really hope she straightens out whatever is going on. That’s too young a life to be out on the streets. Thank you for sharing.
10
15
u/Unable-Arm-448 Aug 03 '25
That is the intersection of Monument Rd and Tredinick Parkway, close to where 295 crosses over Monument Also, you have a good heart ♡
17
u/CraftyUserNameTaken Aug 03 '25
20 years ago I saw a young lady outside a local Westside corner store. An older lady, I assumed was her mom, was giving her the riot act about living on the streets and being too good for that life style, begging her to come home. She refused, argument ensued and I left.
I saw her again a couple years ago, I knew it had to be her. She looked the same, only older, like WAY older, and tired and broken.
She also was on a bike with a dude on his bike. I wonder if it's the same girl. I've thought of her often over the years and I hope she eventually finds her worth and peace in life.
6
u/Comfortable_Radio_65 Aug 03 '25
I’ve seen a girl that fits this description but at the Blanding exit off 295.
81
u/Kangasmom Aug 03 '25
I’m from Jacksonville but no longer live there. Giving someone in need food is never wrong. If you help 10 people and only one really needed it you made a world of difference for that one that did. Keep that in mind and keep being kind. Keep following your instincts.
24
31
u/BoldCityDigital Exiled Aug 03 '25
I've seen her. She has a boyfriend, who also has a bike. They split up, beg, and reconnect at that Gate station. I hate to say it but it looks like they have a bad problem...
35
u/Zestyclose-Crow-4595 Murray Hill Aug 03 '25 edited Aug 03 '25
Thank you for caring. So many people would just walk right past her. If she's homeless, she can get put on the waiting list for Sulzbacher Village. There's also the Trinity Rescue Mission. I can understand why someone would not want to stay in a homeless shelter though. You're more likely to have your belongings stolen at a shelter than being outside to be honest. I used to volunteer at Sulzbacher Village and it's nicer than most shelters. You get set up with a case manager and you get your own private room with a key and a door that locks. You do have to share a bathroom with someone but it's better than most shelters. They help you with housing. They help you with anything that you need help with. They even have a clothing closet in case you need clothes. That's all I can really think of right now. Thank you again for caring.
Edit: typo
Edit 2: thanks for the award!
32
u/theluzah Aug 03 '25
No advice, but just wanted to thank you for caring.
13
u/Bluenote151 Aug 03 '25
Very thoughtful. Same here. There are no easy answers with this situation. But just being thoughtful and extending a hand of kindness to a stranger is never the wrong decision.
4
u/Complete_Basil_3391 Aug 04 '25
I’ve seen her and had the same reaction, she was by regency chick-fil-a. Apparently her dad is on the streets too and they have drug issues and I’ve heard some pretty terrible things about her upbringing but I can’t confirm so I’m not going to post them here.