Journey

 As I stated on the homepage, I couldn't resist starting my efforts. I was away and had the opportunity to learn some stories and help a few people while doing so.

I started out going to the store and buying some food items, hand wipes, and water, then bagging them up so I could hand them out. This is what each package consisted of:

(Water, hand wipes, banana, pretzel packets, pudding, granola bars, and peanut butter crackers)

I normally like to include a few more things, along with travel size toiletries, but since I wasn't prepared to be creating care bags, I had to do what I could, with what I had.

This is what the trunk looked like after assembly.

I didn't even make it out of the store's parking lot and I had the pleasure of meeting 3 different gentlemen, and recording their stories. Then I made my way to downtown, and near the beach. I felt completely inadequate with the number of bags I had to hand out to the number of folks that appeared to be in need. Thoughts such as "why couldn't of I been born rich so I could help more people, or Why can't I just win the lottery so I could be a philanthropist,  or why can't a rich person use me to do their personal philanthropic duties for them?" raced through my head. I had to shake those thoughts away telling myself to be thankful for the help I am able to provide for others and even though I'd like to do more, doing something is always better than doing nothing! So on I went.

I offered the small bags I had assembled, explained how I was working on a book, then asked them for permission to sit and learn their story. So I sat and chatted, joked with them, shared laughs, and recorded the events that led to their current living arrangements.

It amazed me the things I learned, and it saddened me to see onlookers faces when they passed by. Looks of being disturbed often were the majority, with the minority being compassionate smiles. I asked each individual
I spoke with what their one piece of help, if they could so choose - what would it be. The answers melted my heart- I heard education, job training, a place to live, food, clean under garments, and so on.

As I have stated before, I just want to provide for all of them, clean them up, feed them, provide shelter, and give them all the help each one needs. So even though I am limited in resources, I will continue to help with what I can while trying to encourage others to wholeheartedly commit to making a difference too. Then we'll see how much can really be done. Who knows- my dream of a shelter for transitional housing , just might become a reality sooner than later.

Here's a few of the faces that I had the joy of conversing with. (You'll have to by the book to read their stories!) I can't build a  shelter with zero funds!!!) OK I'll share a little-

 Rick served our country.

 Clarence was hit by a train and lost his foot. Sean was a business owner.

Katherine took care of  and lived with her mother until their rent was raised an obscene amount....

leaving them all in the same situation....HOMELESS!