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I need to raise $5,000 before the end of June. I think I can, no, I know I can. I need your help. I am asking friends, family, followers, strangers...and here is why:
Have you ever felt invisible? Have you ever felt unseen, unheard, uncared for, undignified, and disposable? Have you ever felt like a burden or a problem no one wanted to deal with? A lost cause? Have you ever felt hopeless and alone? Have you almost forgotten your own name because no one ever says it enough to matter?
I have.
If we are being honest, at some point in all our lives, everyone can identify with at least one of those feelings because sometimes the darkness has no prejudice.
A few weeks ago I came across Suitcase Joe. Suitcase Joe is a Skid Row street photographer who has been going down there for years and capturing the essence of those streets and the heart and soul of the people that live there because yes, there is heart, it's just been buried under circumstances and misfortune.
Suitcase Joe and his team have been allowing me the honor of going down to Skid Row with them to hand out food, water, clothing, hygiene products, bedding, and necessities. It starts with a U-Haul and fueled by compassion and a sense of duty, they put all their resources in motion and make this happen on their own.
My first time going I was scared. It was an unknown scenario for me. There had been a fear instilled in me by society that I carried, but I knew I had to go. It was the right thing to do. I had been warned, "those people are crazy", "you aren't safe". Couldn't the same be said about going out and running daily errands in today's world anyways?
I went and it was one of the most profound experiences of my life. I met so colorful personalities, so many beautiful people. They were friendly and they were, surprise surprise, human. Just like you and me. It's the people we drive right past. It's the people many of us make judgments about without ever getting to know them, personally. These people were all my friends that day. They were lovely.
Without people seeing them, they would live and die without opportunities to a better life we should all be afforded. They have and will always be one of us. It could easily be you and it could easily be me.
They are mostly the minority.
Well, I fell in love with the Suitcase Joe Foundation and I have made it my heart's mission to help, to REALLY help.
This time, we are focusing on the women of Skid Row who are some of the most vulnerable members of the community. Sadly, they are the most preyed upon and for them, survival on the streets is the hardest.
I gotta say, one thing that has stuck out in all my visits is how hard a time they have holding their heads up and making eye contact. It's almost like they are carrying 800 pounds of shame on their shoulders.
The Suitcase Joe Foundation is going full steam ahead with a women's outreach in Skid Row.
We need to raise the money to make it happen and although times are really tough, for me included, If everyone could help just a little, no amount is too small, we can make this happen.
HERE WE GO!
THE SUITCASE JOE WOMEN'S OUTREACH
The Women's Outreach will offer health resources like Covid-19 testing, health screenings, and mental health support, as well as essential gifts for the homeless ladies of DTLA offering hygiene necessities, toiletries, and supplies while maintaining social distancing and safety protocols. Our aim with the Outreach is to help the women of Skid Row address their health risks and to restore dignity to anyone there who may be feeling invisible and hopeless.
Think of all of the things these women on Skid Row do NOT have access to. We are going to provide as much as we can.
I don't like to ask for help, but so many people have reached out to me and asked me how to help. Well, this is one BIG way.
It means so much to me to try and raise this money and I hope that if you know me, you will help me help these people.
Thank you in advance, and for reading this story...
Now, the mission: to meet the goal.
You can see more pictures of the humans of Skid Row on Instagram at: suitcase_joe .
Thank you everyone! From the bottom of my heart!
Nicole
Have you ever felt invisible? Have you ever felt unseen, unheard, uncared for, undignified, and disposable? Have you ever felt like a burden or a problem no one wanted to deal with? A lost cause? Have you ever felt hopeless and alone? Have you almost forgotten your own name because no one ever says it enough to matter?
I have.
If we are being honest, at some point in all our lives, everyone can identify with at least one of those feelings because sometimes the darkness has no prejudice.
A few weeks ago I came across Suitcase Joe. Suitcase Joe is a Skid Row street photographer who has been going down there for years and capturing the essence of those streets and the heart and soul of the people that live there because yes, there is heart, it's just been buried under circumstances and misfortune.
Suitcase Joe and his team have been allowing me the honor of going down to Skid Row with them to hand out food, water, clothing, hygiene products, bedding, and necessities. It starts with a U-Haul and fueled by compassion and a sense of duty, they put all their resources in motion and make this happen on their own.
My first time going I was scared. It was an unknown scenario for me. There had been a fear instilled in me by society that I carried, but I knew I had to go. It was the right thing to do. I had been warned, "those people are crazy", "you aren't safe". Couldn't the same be said about going out and running daily errands in today's world anyways?
I went and it was one of the most profound experiences of my life. I met so colorful personalities, so many beautiful people. They were friendly and they were, surprise surprise, human. Just like you and me. It's the people we drive right past. It's the people many of us make judgments about without ever getting to know them, personally. These people were all my friends that day. They were lovely.
Without people seeing them, they would live and die without opportunities to a better life we should all be afforded. They have and will always be one of us. It could easily be you and it could easily be me.
They are mostly the minority.
Well, I fell in love with the Suitcase Joe Foundation and I have made it my heart's mission to help, to REALLY help.
This time, we are focusing on the women of Skid Row who are some of the most vulnerable members of the community. Sadly, they are the most preyed upon and for them, survival on the streets is the hardest.
I gotta say, one thing that has stuck out in all my visits is how hard a time they have holding their heads up and making eye contact. It's almost like they are carrying 800 pounds of shame on their shoulders.
The Suitcase Joe Foundation is going full steam ahead with a women's outreach in Skid Row.
We need to raise the money to make it happen and although times are really tough, for me included, If everyone could help just a little, no amount is too small, we can make this happen.
HERE WE GO!
THE SUITCASE JOE WOMEN'S OUTREACH
The Women's Outreach will offer health resources like Covid-19 testing, health screenings, and mental health support, as well as essential gifts for the homeless ladies of DTLA offering hygiene necessities, toiletries, and supplies while maintaining social distancing and safety protocols. Our aim with the Outreach is to help the women of Skid Row address their health risks and to restore dignity to anyone there who may be feeling invisible and hopeless.
Think of all of the things these women on Skid Row do NOT have access to. We are going to provide as much as we can.
I don't like to ask for help, but so many people have reached out to me and asked me how to help. Well, this is one BIG way.
It means so much to me to try and raise this money and I hope that if you know me, you will help me help these people.
Thank you in advance, and for reading this story...
Now, the mission: to meet the goal.
You can see more pictures of the humans of Skid Row on Instagram at: suitcase_joe .
Thank you everyone! From the bottom of my heart!
Nicole