Hey James and anyone else who wants to know...
Helping the homeless can be anything from giving them money, dropping off a hot plate every now and then or even leaving a bag of clothing items for those we see on a daily. We cannot be the same people who roll the windows up at the freeway off ramps. We cannot pretend not to see the people begging for money or food at the stop lights. Turning up the music or looking away avoiding eye contact does not mean that they do not see you looking away. We try to avoid the problem but it will never be resolved. We are our community. Those beggers used to walk these streets, went to your school, shopped where you shop and probably even had hobbies/interests/and goals like you did. When was the last time they got a X-mas present or celebrated their birthday? They are all people, regardless of the life they choose to live now.
Rather then sending our help out of the country, I choose to help the people we see everyday in our own backyard. Some people will not want the help but there may be one that does. In Calif we dropped hot breakfasts off by the bridge in Compton or Gardena where we saw the homeless. We dropped off bags of hygeine items, and clothing for the climate like sweaters in the winter or shirts/hats and umbrellas, etc... The easiest way to start this would be to simply ask the people you see on the street. Would they accept a free meal? Would they accept a bag of goods? Start small in your own city and find out where these people are.
Use resources. You can volunteer at a local soup kitchen, downtown at skid row or at a local shelter. City hall can direct you to any information if you only ask. Law enforcement agencies are also aware of the people they deal with daily on the street. Local Churches have food giveaways on Sundays, so you can find people in need there or ask the staff. We can even take up a cash collection or canned goods, clothing and drop it off at the Churches or Salvation Army lots. I however, like to see that the help get to the people I see on my street everyday. As long as you do your part, what they do with their items is for them to decide. If they pawn, sell or trade their help items/food/clothes for other things like drugs/alcohol or what have you that is their choice. We did our part. If some people do not want the help then skip them and find someone else to help.
Fund raisers probably take the most effort to get going. Here in North Carolina, we have networked with the local bike shops for car wash support. I also started hitting the local shops that sell sweaters and winter gear, and asked them for a discount or free items with a purchase. I told them what it was for, they can have a person from their staff present to ensure that the items go to the homeless and not sold for profit. I had a good response and have quite a few shops on board. In return I will put them on our event flyers and promote their shops. The homeless get their winter gear and it is a minimal cost for the MAYHEM crew. People brought up the media before, but it is not about getting recognized for our actions. It is about doing a small part for the community, just like the toy drives.
You do not have to use your own money! For example, we can solicit businesses for donations. Gift cards can be raffled off for a business while the proceeds go to the homeless fund. Krispy Kreme also offers a program where they will sell us a dozen glazed for half price and you sell them for full price. You can buy as many as you want and they will provide the 50 percent savings to assist us with the find raising. We can take up a collection for beer but we can't buy a homeless person a lunch? Of course I am not saying take on the responsibility to save the world, but we can make that person feel good that one time, that one day. Let them know that someone in this world does care. Why us? Why should we help? That's why... because we don't have to, that is why we should because if we don't, who will? Donate your time or your ideas and we pray that if we ever find ourselves in need that someone helps us in the future.
If you all need any help in any Chapter, let me know and I will try to answer your questions as best as I can. Februaury is the Official North Carolina care for the Homeless month, but we will be doing our support drives throughout the year. Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Xmas and God Bless you all my MAYHEM family.
-MAYHEM
