Randy Davis is a familiar face at the 7-Eleven at Ninth and Gaffey streets in San Pedro.
A San Pedro High School dropout who became homeless, Davis, 33, has been one of the regular panhandlers in front of the busy store, seeking spare change from strangers.
Now, he’s still a regular — but behind the counter.
Davis caught the attention of the store owner when he began offering to clean up the parking area in exchange for food.
“I’m not crazy,” Davis said of his fall into hard times that came after a failed romance. “I was just kind of lost in life, broken-hearted.”
Three weeks ago, he was hired to work five nights a week — the graveyard shift — inside the 24-hour convenience store that also sells hot dogs, sandwiches and drinks.
“(The owner) got to know me and, finally, I got the nerve up to ask for a job,” Davis said.
Franchise owner Robert Lee said the lead-up to hiring Davis lasted about a year.
“I’ve never had any trouble with Randy,” he said of Davis’ panhandling days. When panhandlers were asked to leave every morning, Davis was always compliant, Lee said.
• RELATED: Volunteers get one-night snapshot of homeless population in South Bay, Harbor Area
Along the way, Lee learned that Davis had once been a manager at a Del Taco and had other work experience as well.
“One day we had a project he helped us with and I gave him an application,” Lee said.
About a year later, Davis told Lee he was serious about coming to work.
A new beginning
The opportunity has renewed Davis’ determination to get off the streets.
Asked if he had a place to stay, he said, “Currently no, but that’s going to change. I’m saving up my first couple of paychecks to rent a room.”
Panhandling for Davis wasn’t an easy way of life.
“You’ve got to swallow your pride to panhandle and ask people for spare change,” he said. “I would never ask old ladies or women with kids.”
When a pregnant woman once offered him money, he said he turned it down.
“There were ups and downs, good days and bad days,” said Davis, who added that he has held jobs at restaurants off and on in the past.
Many people are kind, he said. Others can be rude.
When a homeless friend walked into the store one day last week, she broke out in a big grin when Davis told her he now worked there.
“Oh my God, yes, yes,” she said.
Gratitude for the boss
Davis is lavish in his praise for the man who hired him.
“It says a lot about the owner of this place, he’s a real humanitarian,” Davis said. “He took a gamble.”
Davis does a little bit of everything in his new job — cashier, hot dog grill operator, clerk and cleanup. The job, for now, is part-time and pays minimum wage.
“I’d rather be here working than anywhere else,” he said.
The moral of his story?
“Don’t give up,” he said. “Have faith in yourself and in the people out there who will help you.”
Our editors found this article on this site using Google and regenerated it for our readers.
