WASHINGTON -- A small gift has made a big difference for a D.C. grandmother who has struggled with homelessness for 20 years. It's also created a bond of friendship -- and given birth to a campaign so we can all make a difference.
"It's all about love," said Faye Smith, who donated a watch to a stranger at her Metro station on Mothers Day, and now has a friend for life.
"Meeting her has made me blessed too," said Joanie Ferrari, 56. "Mothers Day, she came up to me, gave me this real beautiful watch, and that is how we started talking and meeting," she said, her arms wrapped around Smith.
Just because you're homeless, doesn't mean you don't have places to be. "They need watches cause they need to get to shelters on time," said Smith. "They need to get to beds on time. They need to get to hot meal trucks on time."
Faye Smith is a federal contractor. We first met her when she'd been furloughed... and was a struggling to pay her rent. "All cried out," she told us at a protest in January.
People across the country saw her story and contributed more than $4,500 to help.
"All of us are just a paycheck away from being homeless, so don't walk over the top of someone and think it can't happen to you," said Smith.
As much as a gift to the homeless, Smith said the watch and the friendship with Ferrari has been a gift to her. "Make me cry a whole lot. Everybody can have this same feeling. All you got to do is stop and love one another," she said. "That's all you need. We're all human beings," said Ferrari, picking up the thought.
Faye says you can just buy a watch at a dollar store. She'll collect and donate them. You can contact her by email at fayesmith0428@gmail.com or contact her on Facebook.
Better yet, give a watch yourself to someone who is struggling -- and see what kind of human connection you make.