It was about 6:30 in the morning when I parked my car across the street from the post office in Great Neck. I had a few letters to mail and then I was going to stop at the deli that's right next door to pick up a buttered roll and a cup of coffee.

As I was about to get out of the car, I noticed a young boy --- he didn't seem to be more than 8 or 9 years old --- sitting on a bench in the park that faces the post office. The boy had two rows of soda cans lined up on the bench next to him.

As I got out of the car, I realized that he was counting the cans --- "13, 14, 15, 16, 17..." Since we were only a few feet apart, I stopped and said, "Good Morning." The boy smiled, but was too shy to reply.

"What are you doing?" I asked. The boy hesitated for a moment before answering. "If I give 25 cans to the man in the deli, I can get enough money to buy breakfast." As I thought about what he had said, the boy ran over to a trash can on the other side of the park to look for more cans.

The world often seems like a crazy place. Around me I see people who have the best of everything --- houses, food, clothing, cars --- and then I see others who have almost nothing --- no home, no food, tattered clothing. Worst of all, many have little chance that tomorrow will be any better than today.

If you're like me and you've enjoyed some good fortune in your life, please consider sharing it with those less fortunate. To help local families in need, please make your check payable to: The Interfaith Nutrition Network (INN) or The Coalition for the Homeless. Contributions can be mailed to: Dave Golbert, 7 Lee Court West, Great Neck, NY 11024

One small act of kindness can change a person's life.