Tahir Kabir Syed has not had a day off in more than three years. Day and night you'll find him behind the counter of his store, the Neighborhood Grocery, where people linger long after they have made their purchases. They congregate to buy essentials, visit with friends and share a laugh. The grocery on Bailey Road is a gathering place for young and old.

T.K. is more than a grocer. When he knows a family is in need, he may give them a sandwich or a carton of milk. Other times, it's something bigger, like putting in a call to get someone work, or finding another a place to sleep—one time for as long as five months. On top of that, he allows regulars to run up large tabs when times are tough so that they can keep food on the table.

"I'm just trying to help," he says. "If I really don’t help these people, they have no way to survive."

Three-year-old Mike peers over the counter at T.K. Syed, the owner of the Neighborhood Grocery excited about his "Gummi Army Guys" purchase.