My 15-year-old daughter has truly inspired me, and I truly did not think it would be so hard to get donations for this kind of cause. We have got zero. Every week, with whatever money I could make and even money she made, she would go and buy things so we can make bags. Anytime my daughter makes any kind of money, the first thing that she wants to do is go buy a box of granola bars or a six-pack of water or whatever she can. She says, 'Hey Mom, let's go hand some things out, please.'
This winter, when we had our first snow, we were at a light, and there was a man sitting on the ground. He didn't have any shoes on; he didn't even have a shirt. He was wrapped in a thin blanket and just looked defeated. I know most people just look away, act like they don't see them. My 15-year-old goes, 'Mom, what can we do to help him?' I said, 'I don't know, honey. There are shelters and stuff, but they get filled up really fast, and a lot of people can't even get there. It's snowing, he doesn't even have shoes, you know? So in situations like this, what are they going to do?' She was looking on her phone and she goes, 'Hey, I got $5, take me to Walmart.' I said, 'Yeah.' She went in and came back out; she bought an emergency thermal blanket, hand warmers, and a water. I was like, 'What's this?' She says, 'I googled it, and these things are supposed to block the wind and help them retain most of their body heat, so it will keep them warm. Can we please go back to that guy?' I was like, 'Yeah, absolutely.' She got out, gave it to him. He looked confused at first and then he said, 'Thank you.'
The next day, we were driving, my daughter says, 'Mom, stop, that's the guy.' She's like, 'Did that help?' He asked me if he could give her a hug, and she jumped out of the car. He said, 'Thank you so much, you gave me hope and saved my life. When I was sitting there and car after car just drove by and acted like you're not even alive or acknowledge you at all, I just felt defeated. I couldn't feel my feet, I just didn't want to go on. You truly helped me, thank you.' Lilly goes, 'Mom, we have to make more bags.' I'm like, 'Well, honey, I don't have a lot of money, but I'm going to try to make a GoFundMe for you, and maybe we can make an Amazon list.' You know, I shared it and shared it and shared it, did not get one donation. I started doordashing when I was off work, and any bit of money that I made, I went out and bought things. I was able to eventually get stuff for 25 bags because my daughter was so passionate about it. I did not want to discourage her with how the world is, and we went and passed out those 25 bags. We sat down, we talked to these individuals, listened to their stories, and it's heartbreaking. I understand everybody is just kind of on a set routine and worried about their own selves, but for a 15-year-old to worry about others first, it's truly inspiring to me, very selfless. She doesn't do it to go, 'Oh, look at me.' She does it because it's the right thing to do, and I'm very proud of her. So with that being said, I'm really hoping we can get some donations so I can keep this going for her.
here is also the link to her Amazon list for items
Organizer
