October 28, 2015

This was the 122nd week of making care bags for the homeless of Logan Square, Chicago. Six bags were delivered this week for a total of over 672 care bags since this all began over two and a half years ago.
I want to remind people to not think so much about what you think others deserve. Its easy to make those judgements when you have none of the facts and view them through the prism of your own life and personality. Everyone’s different, everyone’s past, abilities, patience, outlook, environment concepts, etc. makes us so incredibly different from one another. Making these bags help me be less judgmental and more understanding about things I don’t understand. Give it a try. care-bags.org‪#‎ShareTheCare‬, ‪#‎carebags‬
Please don’t forget this years winter wear clothing drives are coming up at the end of December for Chicago (The Hideout Bar) and Indiana, PA (Brunzies Bar).

October 20, 2015

Last week (10-20-15) was the 121st week of making care bags for the homeless of Logan Square, Chicago. Five bags were delivered this week for a total of over 666 care bags with cold drinks, toiletries, snack, nutritional items and clothing.
A couple weeks ago I made a plea on Facebook for someone to visit Roger and drop off some cash because I couldn’t get away. The two and a half years I’ve known him, he’d never asked for money from me. I saw Roger last week and dropped off a bag for him; it was the first time we had seen each other since Kimberly Kingen dropped off some money. I wish you were all there because you would have seen such a beautiful moment. Roger thanked me and broke down into tears, I think for the gratitude and the ongoing relationship. I hugged him and told him anytime he needs something to just ask. I thought to myself, here are two broken people in the world trying to get through it all. Roger and I are so different in our struggles but here we are helping each other. He probably doesn’t even know his life has the impact it does on me. It was an emotionally difficult moment for him. We’ve come a long way together. Thank you Kimberly Kingen for going out of your way to help him out. care-bags.org ‪#‎ShareTheCare‬, ‪#‎carebags‬

October 11, 2015

This is the 120th week of delivering care bags to the homeless of Logan Square, Chicago. Five bags were made this week for a total of over 661 care bags in the past two and a half years.
These bags are a gesture of kindness. The bags have helped me build relationships with not just the homeless but like minded people and share the results with all of you. The care bags purpose isn’t to end homelessness but to tell someone they matter, to show somebody people care. Every weekthe bags contain toiletry items, a combination of nutritious individually wrapped foods and drinks as well as treats like chocolate and candy. I try to place items that can help with hunger when they don’t have enough money to eat or if they are too tired to walk several blocks to get a snack. The bags have spawned two annual clothing drives (Chicago, IL and Indiana, PA) as well as an iPod donation program. The relationships and trust have helped Bud get off the streets and off of heroin and getting Teresa signed up for permanent housing.
I started posting these bags long ago in hopes it would inspire people to make weekly or even monthly care bags in their communities. Sometimes I feel disappointed this hasn’t happened consistently but I do know these bags and posts have made people more aware of what the homeless go through. Someday I hope we can get passed whatever holds people back from helping one another. These are human beings, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters. We dont need to decide who is worthy of help or not.care-bags.org, ‪#‎ShareTheCare‬, ‪#‎carebags‬

October 6, 2015

October 6, 2015 makes 119th week of delivering care bags to the homeless of Logan Square, Chicago. Five bags were made this week for a total of over 656 care bags.
I received a wonderful donation from The United in Faith Lutheran Church and the help of Dawn Marie Galtieri getting them to me. These sleeping mats that are constructed from plastic bags. What a great way to recycle those bags! They were very well received as these mats will help cushion but also act as a cold barrier. Every homeless friend of mine was very happy to get them. Thanks Dawn! ‪#‎CareBags‬, ‪#‎ShareTheCare‬, care-bags.org