As we drove around downtown Sacramento on Christmas morning, we came across a homeless gentleman who was hunkered on the stoop of a storefront. I remember his eyes, they looked sad, cold, and empty. His skin was worn from years of being exposed to grim climates, his clothes tattered and  covered in dirt, and an old blanket and torn-up blue tarp served as his bed. As I handed a backpack to John on that cold winter morning, his eyes instantly lit up, his weary expression changed to a smile, and he thanked us as if we had just given him the keys to a new car. Then he asked us “Why are you doing this?” We responded, “We just wanted to show you that we care.” As we embraced, his eyes filled with tears and we realized it wasn’t just the backpacks and tangible items that had changed his day, it was us. He was appreciative, not only for the backpack filled with toiletries, food, and warm clothing, but more so for our willingness to recognize his social isolation, have a conversation with him, and learn about his life stories. He was able to feel heard and valued as a human being. That in itself was the greatest gift of all, raw human connection. From that day forward, it became our life’s work to share that same type of experience with as many individuals in need as possible and continue to cultivate meaningful bonds.