Kindhearted

Look to me like this woman in the picture is being kindhearted by taking something (presumably food), out of her picnic basket to help this young man.  I wish we could all immolate this act of kindness.  Perhaps you can help someone with food, perhaps money, perhaps a gift card to get food, perhaps with clothing.  Perhaps with kind conversation and a meaningful smile.  Being kindhearted to people is something we should all strive for.  I know I don't always pull it off.  Some days you're rushed for time and don't take the time for the extra act of kindness, some days you're unprepared and later wish you had had a gift card with  you, or food to share, or a warm coat.  Whatever the act of kindness is, it's something anyone receiving it will be appreciative.

Have you actively participated in a week, or a month of random acts of kindness?  If you have tell us about your experiences.  Perhaps something you've done or seen others do will inspire the rest of us.  Perhaps your story will inspire us to invest in another human being.

If you work in or frequently spend time in a downtown area of a large city, you probably come face to face of homeless and others in need more than if you're living in a rural area.  Do you visit parks and see folks trying to sleep on a park bench?  Tell us what you see, what you think could be done to make life easier or kinder for someone else.

**The counts on our progress bars are current, the percentages not quite. I'll not be figure the percentages with each update of numbers, but will be updating again next at least by the 20th. I have in fact made a reminder not on my cell phone for the 20th of each month to do percentages. If we're at a milestone, or I just have extra time I may do it more often...but certainly at that scheduled time.


 **All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.

Jack Otis, The Face of Homelessness

 

Meet my fellow classmate and friend, Jack Otis. By the hair style you might be able to guess the photo is from the sixty's. 1969 was the graduating year to be exact. Look at that infectious smile and twinkle in his eyes. Now for folks younger then me, seeing this picture -- you might be shocked to see someone dressed for their senior picture. Being barefoot, in casual clothes, outside leaning on a tree or sitting with the family pet was never ever done! The men always wore coats and ties, and the ladies always wore the same blouse for uniformity. Ladies could wear a fluffy cape looking thing the photographer supplied for an extra fee.

Jack Otis graduated from Whetstone High School back in 1969 in Columbus, Ohio. Unlike most of my classmates I didn't know Jack for eons and eons. We didn't attend grade school and junior high together. His family didn't live in the same neighborhood forever, like so many of us. In fact, very little is known about Jack's family. Jack lived with his Dad. None of us knew anything about his mother, except that she wasn't around. Those who knew his home life, remembered his Dad as not being a particularly stable person. Jack was new to our school, he came from someplace in Kentucky. Some classmates believe he moved around a lot.

During those high school years, classmates remember Jack as fun to be with, perhaps even a bit on the wilder side. He was full of life, a bit ornery. Not wild as in bad, but not a mild quiet, stay to oneself type of person. He liked to drink PBR (translation for the younger set, Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer). I should also add that drinking at age 18 was legal back in our day. We had what was called low beer, 3.2 and those 18-19 and 20 could drink that, but you had to be 21 to drink hard liquor and or high beer...high beer is the beer that's out now days. 3.2 no longer exists.

Jack like to drive around on old trails in his Bugged Eyed Sprite (sports car). He was chosen to be Nancy Edgars' escort for The Home Coming Court. That was a big deal, back in the day. Jack was popular folks. He was well liked, he was good looking guy...which you can clearly see from his picture.

He was born (as best I can tell from research) on June 14th, 1951. He died in the year 2000, alone and penny-less. He died homeless in the outskirts of Tucson, Arizona. He lived in a hobo camp outside the city limits and is buried in a small paupers grave in Pima County, Arizona. That area set aside in the cemetery for those without family, those who are indigent, those who have no means of another burial.

Did Jack choose this life? Did the life choose him? What happened to make this smiling good looking young man die alone and homeless? We know he chose to travel some after graduation, and for a short while, we know a fellow classmate gave him lodging in Tucson. That didn't last long, as Jack returned to the hobo camp and died sometime later. Did his sad unstable home life play into this? Who knows. But, this is the face of homelessness folks. I'm willing to bet you all have someone in your past with a similar story. He was someone's son. He was a friend. It makes me sad to know he's buried in a pauper's grave. The reality that truly anyone can be homeless is a sobering fact.This isn't a newly written post, but is so important, I thought I would re-cycle it.  Homelessness does have a face, it's perhaps easier to ignore the problem if we fail to understand it does indeed have a face, a face of a friend, a relative, a co-worker; or perhaps a neighbor.  There are many people who judge homeless in a very negative manner.  There is sadly, sometimes a general feeling that homeless people are all criminals, on drugs etc.  But, homelessness happens to all kinds of people for all kinds of reasons.  Some we understand, some we do not.  Can you put a face to homelessness?  If so, please share.

 

Make an Investment

It occurs to me, we as a society need to make an investment in our Homeless Population.  I feel like that's what we do here on Bridge and Beyond.  We knit, we crochet, we loom and we donate hand made items of warmth...but isn't that us, making an investment in these people who are less fortunate than we are?  We're investing in their future.

I wish, we as a society were making more of an investment in getting people off the streets.  In providing them with a warm roof over their heads.  Investing in their future by helping with jobs, and providing mental health services which are so often needed with homeless populations.  I know homeless people have been around for ages and at times in our history the population has grown and at other times it has become less, which is awesome; but I believe we need a permanent fix...a permanent investment in the future for people in need.

**The counts on our progress bars are current, the percentages not quite. I'll not be figure the percentages with each update of numbers, but will be updating again next at least by the 20th. I have in fact made a reminder not on my cell phone for the 20th of each month to do percentages. If we're at a milestone, or I just have extra time I may do it more often...but certainly at that scheduled time.


** All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.

Homeless, Hungry, and Hats

We've chatted a lot about being homeless since the first of the year, and shared pictures of the face of homelessness.  Some, depending on where you are you see more than others.  Another picture, sad picture of a person sleeping on the cold cement.  This gentleman has a piece of cardboard and blanket, that's not much.  How does one sleep?  I find it often difficult to sleep through the night in a warm comfortable bed, can't imagine sleeping on the cold, hard cement with perhaps city noises all around you.  I've posted quite a few pictures of that in recent weeks.  Still, each picture sadness me.

Cold, and hungry and homeless.  We do what we can by knitting, crocheting, and looming hats.  There's a hat tab across the top of the blog with information regarding sizes, colors, and fibers.  Please take a look and consider making a hat or two to help Bridge and Beyond help the homeless.  A hat can make a person feel so much warmer.  A hat can keep the cold wind out of your ears and perhaps keep you from getting an ear ache.

If you've knitted or crocheted hats for us before, could I challenge you to make at least one more this calendar year?  Please and thanks.  We didn't make our goal last year and would like to push a bit to see what we can accomplish this year.  Please tell a friend that might help you make a hat or 2. 

Thank you for visiting, and reading this blog.  Hope to see you again.

**The counts on our progress bars are current, the percentages not quite. I'll not be figure the percentages with each update of numbers, but will be updating again next at least by the 20th. I have in fact made a reminder not on my cell phone for the 20th of each month to do percentages. If we're at a milestone, or I just have extra time I may do it more often...but certainly at that scheduled time.

** All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.

Grocery Cart Valuables?

Another sad picture of what Homelessness looks like.  Recently, I was packing for a trip.  I had to work at packing to keep the weight down, as I was flying and trying to take "just what I needed".  Easier said then done.  I thought I was being careful, not taking too much; after all I was going to have a washer and dryer in my condo, so I really didn't NEED a lot.  Even knowing that, I had a hard time packing a suitcase.  This man and so many like him, has all he owns in a shopping cart.  All his valuables, in one shopping cart.  WOW!

I repacked my suitcase a couple of times to get it right, what a comparison.  It gave me pause to think about what we who have so much is essential vs those that live on the edge, live in the elements, live day to day in hopes of a night in a shelter.  Truly quite a comparison.  I thought to myself, what would I put in a single grocery cart that would sustain me?  I found, I didn't have the answer and thankfully, I don't have to have the answer...but that didn't stop me thinking about it.

Could I challenge each of you who read this post, please tell one additional person about Bridge and Beyond and it's mission of caring for Homeless today.  Could you set a reminder on your phone for once a month, once every other week, or weekly?  As reminder to tell someone about the mission here on Bridge and Beyond.  Remember you don't need to knit or crochet or loom to help or to donate.  Don't limit yourself to think whom do I know that knits or crochets.  If you know someone who knits and or crochets, obviously that's a bonus.  But, let's do what we can to help spread the word.  The more people know, the bigger chance of helping hands, and the more helping hands we have...the more people we can help.

Thank you for taking time to read this blog, thank you for taking time to share this blog and it's mission, and thank you to all who donate.



**The counts on our progress bars are current, the percentages not quite. I'll not be figure the percentages with each update of numbers, but will be updating again next at least by the 20th. I have in fact made a reminder not on my cell phone for the 20th of each month to do percentages. If we're at a milestone, or I just have extra time I may do it more often...but certainly at that scheduled time.

** All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.

Foraging

Another sad picture of what Homelessness is...Foraging.  Foraging for food?  This sadly is a reality for far too many people.  Again, hard to imagine what that is like, how demoralizing it probably is.  How are we as a society going to help?  How can we as individual's help?  I can not wave a magic wand and make this problem go away, no matter how much I wish I could.

But, I do believe we can help.  In an earlier post there was a discussion both in the post and in the subsequent comments that followed about whether or not to give homeless (beggars) money.  Many comments were made that indicated a good number of people aren't comfortable with that, and or that they don't tend to carry cash.  Some felt opposed, not knowing how the money would spent and had conflicts/concerns about whether the money would be used to buy food, or cigarettes or alcohol.  I know that may not be the best use for the money, however, I understand why they spend it that way.  And perhaps having that choice gives them a wee bit of freedom...to do as others in society do?  I don't know the right answer and doubt the answer is or should be the same all the time; as circumstances and people are different. 

Some folks indicated in their comments when possible, they've purchased a meal for the person in need.  Naturally if you're right by a fast food or other food source that does work.  Perhaps carrying fast food coupons or gift cards would be a method to help people, not worry about carrying cash and or not worry about how that cash might be spent.  I wonder, has anyone had experiences they can share along those lines?  Are the homeless you see generally near a fast food establishment?  Have you seen someone foraging and offered an alternative for them?

**The counts on our progress bars are current, the percentages not quite. I'll not be figure the percentages with each update of numbers, but will be updating again next at least by the 20th. I have in fact made a reminder not on my cell phone for the 20th of each month to do percentages. If we're at a milestone, or I just have extra time I may do it more often...but certainly at that scheduled time.

 **All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.