I first encountered this sign a month ago, driving south on Reisterstown Road, into Baltimore City. At the time, there wasn’t a place to pull over for a closer look. I even went around the block and tried again to see what this was all about. But it wasn’t meant to be.

Two weeks ago I drove by again, looking for it. But it was gone. I wrote the moment off as just another missed photo opportunity, the kind photographers have every day. When you just can’t get your camera to see what your eye just saw.

Then yesterday, there it was again. Such a simple, unassuming message: “Free clothes, God bless.”  I was touched by both the gesture — made on behalf of a church — and the wording of the sign itself. It wasn’t preaching. There were no strings attached. You just walk up, and take want you need.

As I was taking these pictures, a woman walked up, and did just that.

{Free clothes. No. 1. Baltimore.}