Introduction
After reading a christmas carol and the different articles we read I learned that anybody and everybody you help could change. Like scrooge a mean old man, grumpy at the beginning, even he has changed into a joyful, happy man when visited by the christmas past, present, and future. That the simple things could make someone's day or make them smile. Like scrooge when he sees his past. He had been so excited he even shed a tear.
“Your lip is trembling”, said the Ghost. “And what is that upon your cheek?”
Scrooge muttered, with an unusual catching in his voice, that it was a pimple; and begged the Ghost To lead him to where he would. (Dickens 325)
Also the article written by Querry, K. (Dec, 23 2014) was about a boy named Jared getting picked at school on because of his shoes, and another one of his peers, Yaovi giving his own pair of “Concord” Air Jordans 11 lows to Jared so they would stop picking on him. Jared stated “Just giving somebody something that they don't have that they need makes a huge difference to start with.”
“Your lip is trembling”, said the Ghost. “And what is that upon your cheek?”
Scrooge muttered, with an unusual catching in his voice, that it was a pimple; and begged the Ghost To lead him to where he would. (Dickens 325)
Also the article written by Querry, K. (Dec, 23 2014) was about a boy named Jared getting picked at school on because of his shoes, and another one of his peers, Yaovi giving his own pair of “Concord” Air Jordans 11 lows to Jared so they would stop picking on him. Jared stated “Just giving somebody something that they don't have that they need makes a huge difference to start with.”
Who are we planning to help?
We are planning to help the homeless. Specifically those who are out on the streets with no shelter to go to, cold and lonely. We have the opportunity to go and eat and stay with our families during the christmas time but, homeless people can't when shelters and filled. So we want to be the ones who give them that chance. When it comes to the homeless there are 3 types of people. People who drive by them, people who see them but, chose not to help, and people who see them and help. Our group sees the homeless and are working to help them. To give them the things they need most, even basic necessities and for them to help them not feel lonely.
Research
According to The San Diego Union Tribune ( TSDUNT ), “A January count of the homeless in San Diego County found that there were 8,742 people living on the street or in shelters, a 2.8 percent increase from the year prior. A dramatic increase was reported in downtown San Diego and adjacent neighborhoods.” (Jeremy Stewart)
We decided to call Alpha Project For The Homeless to see what the homeless needs most to give us an idea of what we could do for out plan. They said Hygiene kits, socks, underwear, warm clothing, or sack lunches with PB&J, bananas, or food that won't parrish.
We also researched what kind of items are best to donate. The article 10 dos and don'ts in loving homeless by Myers, J Argues that you shouldn't give brand new clothing to homeless except maybe socks or underwear. Myers, J states, “ Expensive hoodies, jackets, shoes or similar items may endanger them in areas of high populations of the street people, where it is likely they'll be mugged and possible beaten for it” (Myers, 2015)
Another article, Ways to help the homeless by justgive.org argues that you should unsertsand who the homeless are, get to know them, their stories, their names. The author states “help disable the stereotypes about the homeless. Learn different reasons for the homelessness and remember, every situation is unique” (justgive.org, 2015)
We decided to call Alpha Project For The Homeless to see what the homeless needs most to give us an idea of what we could do for out plan. They said Hygiene kits, socks, underwear, warm clothing, or sack lunches with PB&J, bananas, or food that won't parrish.
We also researched what kind of items are best to donate. The article 10 dos and don'ts in loving homeless by Myers, J Argues that you shouldn't give brand new clothing to homeless except maybe socks or underwear. Myers, J states, “ Expensive hoodies, jackets, shoes or similar items may endanger them in areas of high populations of the street people, where it is likely they'll be mugged and possible beaten for it” (Myers, 2015)
Another article, Ways to help the homeless by justgive.org argues that you should unsertsand who the homeless are, get to know them, their stories, their names. The author states “help disable the stereotypes about the homeless. Learn different reasons for the homelessness and remember, every situation is unique” (justgive.org, 2015)
Method
Our idea is to make care packages based off of our research and what the Alpha Project for the homeless had said so
- Warm clothing
- Hygiene kits
- Socks
- Underwear
- Food
- Our group called stores like Walmart, Target, Costco telling them about our project and asking if they were willing to contribute anything they can. Today is December 9th and we are currently waiting for a call back from Walmart. And last Thursday December 3rd we called Costco scheduling an appointment to meet with the manager Chris Martinez. Two representatives went and we received a $50 gift card, with the donation we bought bread, peanut butter, jelly, granola bars, water bottles, and zip lock bags.
- Sunday, December 13 at 9:00 am we will head over to Dani's house and prepare the sandwiches and packages. I will be recording the whole process and create a movie for our presentation.
- Sunday, December 13 after we completed the sandwiches our parents will take us to Downtown San Diego where we will distribute the packages.
Results |
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Early in the mornings we went to Danis house to start making the sandwiches and the care packages. We first started by making the sandwiches. 2 people putting peanut butter and the other 2 putting jam then sealing it into a ziplock bag. After the sandwiches we moved to the hygiene stuff where we put the toothbrush and toothpaste in a small ziplock. In another bag me and Ivanna were folding the socks and underwear and Dani and Trinity were sealing up the bags making them into care packages and adding the extra stuff like the granola bars and water bottles. Once we finished we put them in crates and headed downtown. We parked near the Saint Vincent De Paul homeless shelter where there were lots of them on the sidewalks. Once we parked they started to come and line up. After giving each care package they came through with smile on they faces saying thank you. One problem that came up was a man telling this lady to take her stuff and get out because she was hogging all the clothes and wasn't allowing others to have a chance. One highlight was when we talked to this man named Alvis. He told us about his first night sleeping out on the streets how he was freezing. we talked more and asked him what he needed most from us. His response was my highlight. He had told us that little things. He didn't care what we came with but the fact that we were thinking of them and choosing to help was good enough for him.
Discussion
Everything went smoothly. They came and lined up and we got a chance to help those who didn't get care packages with clothes. You could see the smile on their faces and how grateful there were for us to be helping them. Something we wished to have planned differently is to organize the clothes and the sizes because it was messy trying to look for sizes for each person. Also the care packages went quickly and I wish to have been prepared with more so everyone had a chance to get some. A take away for me was this moment when we talked to this guy named Alvis, he told us his story of his first day out on the streets. We then asked what is it that he needs most and he responded saying the simple things is good enough for him. Even us just going out to help and thinking about them makes him happy. That it doesn't matter what we come with the fact that we came and chose to help is enough for him and that just made me reflect back to that day and share to everyone what he taught me that its the simple things that matter, that nothing ever has to be big to have an impact.
Work Cited
JustGive.org (2015) 35 Ways to Help the Homeless. Retrieved from
https://www.justgive.org/donations/help-homeless.jsp
Myers, J. (2015) 10 dos and don'ts in loving homeless. Retrieved from http://redeeminggod.com/10-dos-and-donts-in-loving-homeless-people/
Querry, K. (2014) Act of Kindness: Student sees classmate being made fun of, gives him new shoes. Retrieved from http://kfor.com/2014/12/23/act-of-kindness-student-sees-classmate-being-made-fun-of-gives-him-new-shoes/
https://www.justgive.org/donations/help-homeless.jsp
Myers, J. (2015) 10 dos and don'ts in loving homeless. Retrieved from http://redeeminggod.com/10-dos-and-donts-in-loving-homeless-people/
Querry, K. (2014) Act of Kindness: Student sees classmate being made fun of, gives him new shoes. Retrieved from http://kfor.com/2014/12/23/act-of-kindness-student-sees-classmate-being-made-fun-of-gives-him-new-shoes/