Hi, friends! Liz here. ‍:) I’m so excited (and a little nervous, tbh!) to share a big piece of my heart with you all. Here goes! November is Homelessness Awareness Month, and I have hardly been able to wait to call attention to it here! I’ve been working very closely with the local unhoused community for a good while now. I spend many of my nights in downtown Eau Claire, walking and talking with people outside, serving meals at the shelter, assessing and meeting needs anywhere I can. “Needs” can look like anything from a pair of socks, a blanket, and some snacks to a tent or a night in a hotel. Sometimes, someone needs help getting connected with resources, making a phone call, writing a resume, or mailing a document. And sometimes, all a person needs is a friend and to feel seen, heard, and cared for.

There is no low-boundary 24-hour shelter facility in our area available to the unhoused members of our community. While there are some wonderful programs and efforts out there, they are often at capacity with waiting lists and/or maintain criteria that eliminates many individuals from being eligible to receive their services (for example, the local overnight shelter is not able to serve families/children). My dream is to see homelessness solved via a community-coordinated and -supported housing-first approach, but until that day comes, we have people in need, sleeping in the streets, and mouths to feed.

Now, Winter is coming, and I’m asking for your help. I have to tell you, I have a *really* hard time asking anyone for anything, but when I thought about reaching out to the Whirlybird community, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that you all would come to the rescue because you are GOOD TO THE CORE and I’ve seen time and time again that you have so much love to give! So, throughout November, I’m asking you to help create a stockpile of items that will aid people experiencing homelessness in surviving the harshest months of the year.

So, here’s the plan, Stan: When you come to Whirlybird this month, I ask that you bring along your unwanted blankets, hoodies, hats, mittens, etc. When you’re out running errands, consider picking up a box of granola bars, a pack of socks, or a few HotHands® from the dollar aisle. Leave them in your car until next time you stop by Whirly! I want this to be as easy for you as possible, so I’ll do the footwork of getting your donations into the hands of those who need it most. All you have to do is think about it, bring it in, drop it off, and go about your day. I’ll do the rest! However, if you’d like to learn more about “the rest,” I’d love to introduce you to my friends, connect you with outreach opportunities, and help you begin your own volunteering journey! Just reach out!

PLEASE HEAR THIS: I love you no matter what you give or don’t give. Times are tough (hence, you know, homelessness), and I acknowledge that I’m over here begging you to care about what I care about. Even if you just read this wordy-birdy post and come away from it with a renewed compassion and consideration for our unhoused neighbors, then I’m thrilled and so grateful! And if you just keep coming to get your fav drinky in the mornings, you’ll be helping us be able to give through our business. How great are you for that?! Thank you!

I’ll be sharing more throughout the month, but for now, THANK YOU in advance. I can’t wait to see the big ol’ piles of stuff that we’re going to build together and I especially can’t wait to update you with the impact it makes on my incredibly resilient friends who just need a little extra support. Thank you for who you are, all you do, and for answering the call to love your [unhoused] neighbors. ️