Sleeping Bag for Ukrainian Soldier

 Bought a sleeping bag for a Ukrainian Solider through Armstreet, a company in the Ukraine that makes historical clothing and armour.

Link here

Birthday Present for unhoused 6 year old.

Sometimes I pick up birthday presents for kids whom Doors of Hope are helping. They are in transitional housing. I got a gift card for Target and wanted to get something solid and real that a 6 year old would like. Not to big, preferably useful and hopeful.  I found the perfect present, a small lockbox with a unicorn that says 'Follow Your Dreams'.

 

Showing people where resources are. Haters not believing the homeless

 I just found a young lady on YouTube who is currently living in her car here in California. She escaped an abusive situation across the country and is here without family or friends support. I sent her links to SafeParking LA  and to the Hope Navigation Center which is a cool app that shows where a lot of resources for the homeless are, including safe parking. 

This girl is funny and beautiful and seems very much like most you tubers/tick tockers. She's dealing with haters who don't even believe she is homeless. Adding insult to injury when you're in a really crappy place and people don't even believe you.

I remember decades ago at the beginning of facebook finding out that many people I know are the type to discredit homeless. I made a post about helping a family who was living in their car with gas; while I was filling up at the gas station the guy behind me asked if I could put some gas in his car.  There was no money exchanged, I just gave gas to a guy who was obviously living in his car with his family (who I could see in the car).  But some of my friends got up in arms.  Several told me I was being scammed. I heard stories of panhandlers who became millionaires. I remember someone I won't name saying she personally knew a guy who made millions panhandling up and down highway 5. No, that never made sense to me. I was shocked at this attitude but it opened my eyes to how some people thought.

I don't see those kind of comments anymore. I hope it's because my acquaintances have wised up, but I think it may be because I confront their beliefs and I have worked enough with the homeless in the area to have data to counter their misconceptions.  

I do think people can be divided into those who would rather feed a few extra people who don't need it to ensure everyone is fed and those who want to make sure only the really needy get anything even if it means a few people go hungry.

Helping feed animals in the Ukraine

Bought a picture from an Etsy seller in the Ukraine. He used to make and sell leathergoods but now he's also selling pictures and using the money to buy pet food for animals left behind.

 https://www.etsy.com/.../ukraine-shops-ukrainian-sellers...

Loan to help weaving in Peru

 Nilda runs the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco, a non-profit organization that employs more than 340 artisans to promote the empowerment of weavers through the revitalization and sustainable practice of Peruvian ancestral textiles in the Cusco region of Peru. For more than 25 years, Nilda has led the Center in its revival of traditional weaving practices and natural dye techniques. The Center has greatly suffered from the COVID-19 pandemic due to lack of tourism and not generating income from textiles sales. This loan will help Nilda reopen the Center and rebuild it after a year of lockdown. 

https://www.kiva.org/lend/2135083

Regenerative Collective

Made a donation to a friends group that has been doing good work. I met him through other activism and have been following his progress on facebook. Lots of people learning how to urban garden.

 

Money

 I sent 6 of my friends $500 through paypal.  Friends with kids and friends in the entertainment business. I told them the truth, my socialist heart wanted to make up for my capitalistic brain that likes to make money and I made a lot of money on the stock market this month.  

I'm a self-made millionaire, I came out of school $55,000 in debt in 1996. 

Shower of Hope

I made a donation to the Shower of Hope today, to support my friend who organizes the volunteers. One of the incredible people in the world.

I was contacted by another friend who was writing a grant proposal with her church to help the homeless and wanted to include the shower. I passed on the contact info of the founder. They connected. Hopefully the grant will be funded.

I need to document my connections more. This is a good place for it.

Public Health Interns

Today I became the Director of Field Studies for Masters of Public Health students summer internship.  I think helping young Epidemiologists will help the world. 

Its apparent we need more Epidemiologists about.

Breadmaker

I bought a breadmaker for a friend who lost her job this week. Her husband lost his too. They have an autistic son. I'm sure he'll be making a lot of bread.