HelpTheHomeless 2018
Donation protected
Greetings All!
We are quickly approaching the holiday season and that time of the year when we get together and give a little to let those in need know that they are not forgotten! Due to a family medical crisis in 2017, we had to focus on the recovery of our loved ones health and postponed the 2017 drive. In doing so, they have successfully recovered about 85% to date! Now it’s time to get back to business!!!
With our last drive in 2016, my dear friend and I was able to distribute 200 backpacks filled with hats, gloves, scarfs, hand warmers, soap, washcloths, sanitizers, deodorant, toilet paper, sanitary napkins, lotion, throw blankets, alcohol wipes, Band-aids, toothbrushes, toothpaste, water bottles and sports bottles. Because of your generous donations, we reached our goal of $2000.00 which helped 200 individuals (all 200+ under Lower Wacker) to get through just a little bit longer.
This year, we raised our goal to $3000.00 which will help 300 individuals. The plan of distribution is a bit different. We still plan to canvas Chicago’s Lower Wacker. But, due to the city’s sweep of the areas homeless population, our focus will be to distribute to local Chicago homeless shelters like Pacific Gardens, The Boulevard and Cathedral Shelter of Chicago.
No donation is too small… With everyone’s help, we can obtain this goal! If you would like to donate any of the items listed instead of making a financial donation, we can arrange to pick them up. Donations are accepted through GoFundMe with any major credit card. All proceeds will go to the Help the Homeless Drive!!! Distribution date is scheduled for December 21, 2018.
Deadline for donations is aimed at December 18th 2018. This will allow us time to prepare the bags.
Original story is listed below….
Hello All,
My Name is Calandra McDonald and I would like to share this story with the hopes of inspiring you to help make a difference in someone's life!
We never know how important it is to have access to the smallest things we generally don’t think about like toothpaste, soap, deodorant, toilet tissue, etc. until we run out. Think about not even having the financial means to obtain these things at all. These everyday items are necessary to maintain our hygiene, which are small but important measures of keeping our bodies healthy. To know that so many people within our communities struggle to obtain these things is disheartening.
3 years ago, my dear friend came to me and told me the story about how she had begun making care packages for the homeless every year around the holidays in order to give back. It touched my heart so deeply that I wanted to be a part of it, not only for that year but to make it one of the things I would dedicate my life to from that moment on. The first 2 years, we distributed about 50 bags to both men and women. This was a huge success! All went so well that we have decided to increase our donations to 100 bags. We have and continue to learn what is most needed and where. Our primary focus has been lower Wacker Downtown and different Mission Centers where an abundance of homeless individuals dwell. We directly distribute these bags so that we can learn more about the people we are providing for and to understand what is most needed. Currently, the donations have been mainly from self and my business partner. We have had a few donations from kindhearted individuals who wanted to help us make a difference. This will be the first year that we are campaigning in order to reach our goal of 100 bags. Our distribution target date is December 22, 2016. All donations will be used to buy toiletries and winter gear which will be filled in backpacks for transporting convenience for all.
So, with your support, I know we can make it! Thank you all so very much for taking the time to read this story and making a difference in someone's life!!!
We are quickly approaching the holiday season and that time of the year when we get together and give a little to let those in need know that they are not forgotten! Due to a family medical crisis in 2017, we had to focus on the recovery of our loved ones health and postponed the 2017 drive. In doing so, they have successfully recovered about 85% to date! Now it’s time to get back to business!!!
With our last drive in 2016, my dear friend and I was able to distribute 200 backpacks filled with hats, gloves, scarfs, hand warmers, soap, washcloths, sanitizers, deodorant, toilet paper, sanitary napkins, lotion, throw blankets, alcohol wipes, Band-aids, toothbrushes, toothpaste, water bottles and sports bottles. Because of your generous donations, we reached our goal of $2000.00 which helped 200 individuals (all 200+ under Lower Wacker) to get through just a little bit longer.
This year, we raised our goal to $3000.00 which will help 300 individuals. The plan of distribution is a bit different. We still plan to canvas Chicago’s Lower Wacker. But, due to the city’s sweep of the areas homeless population, our focus will be to distribute to local Chicago homeless shelters like Pacific Gardens, The Boulevard and Cathedral Shelter of Chicago.
No donation is too small… With everyone’s help, we can obtain this goal! If you would like to donate any of the items listed instead of making a financial donation, we can arrange to pick them up. Donations are accepted through GoFundMe with any major credit card. All proceeds will go to the Help the Homeless Drive!!! Distribution date is scheduled for December 21, 2018.
Deadline for donations is aimed at December 18th 2018. This will allow us time to prepare the bags.
Original story is listed below….
Hello All,
My Name is Calandra McDonald and I would like to share this story with the hopes of inspiring you to help make a difference in someone's life!
We never know how important it is to have access to the smallest things we generally don’t think about like toothpaste, soap, deodorant, toilet tissue, etc. until we run out. Think about not even having the financial means to obtain these things at all. These everyday items are necessary to maintain our hygiene, which are small but important measures of keeping our bodies healthy. To know that so many people within our communities struggle to obtain these things is disheartening.
3 years ago, my dear friend came to me and told me the story about how she had begun making care packages for the homeless every year around the holidays in order to give back. It touched my heart so deeply that I wanted to be a part of it, not only for that year but to make it one of the things I would dedicate my life to from that moment on. The first 2 years, we distributed about 50 bags to both men and women. This was a huge success! All went so well that we have decided to increase our donations to 100 bags. We have and continue to learn what is most needed and where. Our primary focus has been lower Wacker Downtown and different Mission Centers where an abundance of homeless individuals dwell. We directly distribute these bags so that we can learn more about the people we are providing for and to understand what is most needed. Currently, the donations have been mainly from self and my business partner. We have had a few donations from kindhearted individuals who wanted to help us make a difference. This will be the first year that we are campaigning in order to reach our goal of 100 bags. Our distribution target date is December 22, 2016. All donations will be used to buy toiletries and winter gear which will be filled in backpacks for transporting convenience for all.
So, with your support, I know we can make it! Thank you all so very much for taking the time to read this story and making a difference in someone's life!!!
Organizer
Calandra McDonald
Organizer
University Park, IL
