...These are the words of my new friend, Todd, while he talks about his reasoning for starting a street outreach group. The teen shelter he worked at for years came close to closing it's doors recently, but was thankfully bought out by another organization. That shelter is still open and daily providing help to people in need, but that close call was enough incentive for Todd to start his own volunteer funded group. Knowing how state funded programs work, and how tricky the workings of a non-profit organization can be, he set out with only his own funds at his disposal, and set out recruiting volunteers on craigslist.
Tonight was a big group, and a very successful feed. About twenty of us crammed into the lobby of Todd's apartment building as we ran an assembly line of bag packers. I lost track of how many bags were packed, but we divided into groups of 5 or 6 and hit the streets with bulging backpacks.
He instructed, "If anyone asks what group you are with, just say you're a concerned citizen."
And that's the way it should be. Nothing more than people helping people without all the red tape.
Our night ended when we ran out of bags to distribute, even though five sets of hands were still outreached towards us. Todd promised more bags next time when we head out like the mailman; rain or shine. Let me know if you'd like to join.
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This is something i'd be very interested in doing. I can only imagine the feeling of giving back. Must be amazing. SPeaking of similar things, Dec. 6th, me and my friend kindra and a few of her friends are going to downtown seattle and gonna be giving out "free hugs". we're going ot have signs and evern gonna record it. you should join in the festivities. your the only other person I thought of that might seem interested in something like that. let me know. miss you lady.
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