Help Me Help the Homeless.

[VaDwayne]

It came to my attention today that there are approximately 30 homeless folks living in a tent city, down by the river in my hometown. I was asked by a friend in my church if I would be willing to donate a sleeping bag so they can stay warm this winter and of course I said I would. I am also going to purchase a Coleman cook stove for them too.

I thought I would ask if anyone on this forum would like to help. I can get a -5 degree bag from Wal-Mart for about $30.00. If you would like to help please let me know. PM me and I will give you my address to send a check or you can send it via Paypal using my email address.

My Paypal email address is [email protected]

To others who don't have the ability to help, please leave the posting in this thread to those who can. Again, please let this thread deal strictly with this issue.

 

[djs]

VaDwayne - Great idea, my hat is off to you. I like the idea of 'think locally', which is exactly what you are doing, helping take care of those in your community.

Good job!

Dan

 

[Guest]

I'll send you $30. (Hey, I'm a liberal... how can I say no to someone in need? !!)

You should post your pay-pal site.

Al3

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

Amazing idea, I'm in.

 

[Frank Stastny]

What a cool idea. I like that all of the money is going to the person who needs it. Not just a very small percentage.

Count me in for three. I'll put a check for $100 in the mail tomorrow. It won't even be post dated. haha

 

[irish1098]

Im in-please post your address or email it to me at [email protected]. Great Idea

 

[VaDwayne]

Thanks everyone. My friend is actually going to the tent city this morning to check things out. I purchased the camp stove last night and will be ordering the bags as soon as possible. I found out last night that some of the people that live there are teenagers and young children, with their parents.

 

[somarco]

If you have ever worked soup kitchens, and similar outreach programs you will learn there are quite a few children and women on the streets.

I don't make the time like I used to, but I noticed the demographics changing a few years ago. I used to volunteer at an inner city soup kitchen on Sunday afternoon. Originally it was almost all male, all minority. You would see a handful of Caucasians and once in a while a woman.

Then I started seeing more women and a few children. When a family came in one day with a toddler we had no soft food other than mashed potatoes. The next week we had jars of Gerber baby food in the pantry.

This kind of volunteering puts your life in perspective. I haven't been in a soup kitchen in a while but participate in other programs. I am also very much aware of what is happening in my own neighborhood and it is not a pretty sight.

The wrecked economy has touched folks from all walks of life in ways they never imagined.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

There was a study done some years ago - tried to find it but I can't, that said the average American family is 3 months away from being homeless - which means if their income stopped the average family cannot last more than 3 months.

This can affect good people especially in the case of disability. Not everyone has family to turn to. Other are too embarrassed to ask for help.

I believe in direct charity, just like this sleeping bag idea or donating food. It's pure. Call me a cynic but I'm not a fan of just donating "$100" to "ABC Charity" - I have no idea where that money ends up or how much of my dollar actually helps.

Since everything is credit score driven people are especially hurting; default on the mortgage, late on other bills trashes your credit and managed housing (apartment complexes) tend to say no. Not only that but you have to prove income to rent; no job = no apartment.

Most charity-based shelters are temporary. For example, most local shelters in Baltimore have a max stay of 30 days, then you're out.

 

[somarco]

On a similar note, I heard this AM that 1400 people are still living in FEMA trailers in New Orleans. Katrina was 4 years ago.

I don't have a problem helping those who can't help themselves but 4 years in a FEMA trailer seems like it might be time to encourage them to get a place of their own.