Bridget & Mary Need Help
Donation protected
I've never been a person who felt comfortable asking for help. I don't know if it's the time of year, or the state of what's going on in the world, but I feel compelled to send this out and hope for the best, since we seem to need more of that now than ever.
Within the last six months, Chris and I met two homeless ladies who live at a bus stop a couple blocks from our house. I think what caught our eye first was that they have two cats. At first we would just smile or wave hello in passing. As time went on, we stopped to talk with them and found out their names - Bridget and Mary. They are sisters in their 50s who moved here from England in the early 2000s. They have 2 cats - Buddy, a black and white cat that is 21 years old and Polar, a white cat that is 19 years old. They haven't had much luck with housing here and places they could afford were shared apartments with people that either weren't good to their pets or to them. They found themselves out on the streets with their personal belongings in a shopping cart. They've mentioned trying to get help with housing thru the government, but it is slow and seems to move in a backwards process. Although, I know they are still trying and will hopefully make progress.
We really took to these ladies after talking with them and hearing their story. Chris and I would visit them daily bringing them food, water, cat food, hot tea on a cold night, hand warmers to keep them warm when it started to get really cold, jackets and blankets or whatever we could to make life a little more comfortable for them. They have never once asked for anything from us. If I ever ask if they need something, they always say no, but if I bring something to them they gratefully accept. I can tell they have a hard time asking for help.
Since the cold weather and rain has come, Chris and I decided for the holiday to get them a hotel room nearby for a week that allows cats. We moved them into the hotel today and they were so thankful for our help. They mentioned how they will both be able to sleep good now that they don't have to keep watch over one another as they have to do every night while on the street.
The dread we now have is what's to come in a week when we have to move them out. With this fundraiser we hope to raise some money to either extend their stay or provide them with other things that we take for granted - a meal, or hot tea (they're English).
Whether you donate $1 or $20, I know it will mean so much to these ladies who have so little. Anything that you can donate would be so greatly appreciated. Thank you and Merry Christmas.
Within the last six months, Chris and I met two homeless ladies who live at a bus stop a couple blocks from our house. I think what caught our eye first was that they have two cats. At first we would just smile or wave hello in passing. As time went on, we stopped to talk with them and found out their names - Bridget and Mary. They are sisters in their 50s who moved here from England in the early 2000s. They have 2 cats - Buddy, a black and white cat that is 21 years old and Polar, a white cat that is 19 years old. They haven't had much luck with housing here and places they could afford were shared apartments with people that either weren't good to their pets or to them. They found themselves out on the streets with their personal belongings in a shopping cart. They've mentioned trying to get help with housing thru the government, but it is slow and seems to move in a backwards process. Although, I know they are still trying and will hopefully make progress.
We really took to these ladies after talking with them and hearing their story. Chris and I would visit them daily bringing them food, water, cat food, hot tea on a cold night, hand warmers to keep them warm when it started to get really cold, jackets and blankets or whatever we could to make life a little more comfortable for them. They have never once asked for anything from us. If I ever ask if they need something, they always say no, but if I bring something to them they gratefully accept. I can tell they have a hard time asking for help.
Since the cold weather and rain has come, Chris and I decided for the holiday to get them a hotel room nearby for a week that allows cats. We moved them into the hotel today and they were so thankful for our help. They mentioned how they will both be able to sleep good now that they don't have to keep watch over one another as they have to do every night while on the street.
The dread we now have is what's to come in a week when we have to move them out. With this fundraiser we hope to raise some money to either extend their stay or provide them with other things that we take for granted - a meal, or hot tea (they're English).
Whether you donate $1 or $20, I know it will mean so much to these ladies who have so little. Anything that you can donate would be so greatly appreciated. Thank you and Merry Christmas.
Organizer
Jaime & Chris Blauvelt
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
