There is no doubt that LOVE and KINDNESS heals hearts! As someone whose heart is dedicated to eliminating homelessness in Chicago, as well as the stigma surrounding hearts in need, this kindness campaign is my heart song. And, I have no doubt, it will also strike a chord in the hearts of Chicagoans who have experienced at least one winter in the Windy City. The temperatures are starting to drop dramatically, and there is an even greater need to provide warmth to the beautiful souls who have so little in this life, much less pray unceasingly that they will survive yet another Chicago winter. 

This video is of my fantabulous friend, Wendell Edingburg. He's my inspiration on myriad levels. He's that sweet soul who gives to others in need when he has hardly anything in his own pocket. He's the kind of happy heart who exudes jubilant joy to passersby, looking for every opportunity to grace a fellow Chicagoan's face with a simple, sunshiney smile. Wendell is also a survivor. He personifies faith and resilience, as he's been on the streets since 13 years-old. An unimaginably abusive and traumatic childhood propelled him to run away from home at such a young age. "By the grace of God," as Wendell always exclaims to me, he has made it this far. Friday was his 63rd birthday!!! Wendell and I have been praying for months that he would be accepted into a housing program in time to seek solace from Chicago's brutal winter temperatures. As God's gorgeous timing would have it, just two days ago, ON WENDELL'S BIRTHDAY, our prayers were answered! Tomorrow he has an appointment to secure housing on Chicago's South Side! When he told me the news this morning, we hugged and shared the happiest of tears, simply AMAZED at the many miracles God continues to work in our world.

We celebrated his next chapter over breakfast this morning. When I asked Wendell what he deemed his life purpose to be, especially given the fact that the last 50 years were spent surviving on the streets, he glowingly answered that he wants to use his second chance to help other homeless hearts! He told me his dreams of starting a housing center that would not only provide physical sanctuary to hearts in need, but also provide clinical and spiritual services in an effort to rebuild lives and restore a renewed sense of purpose in those who struggle to find reasons to keep going.

My intention for this video is to inspire you to use your YOU-nique LOVE and KINDNESS to warm the hearts of those in need during the holiday season. Whether it's $1 or $100, your loving donations will be used to purchase high-performance thermal blankets, coats, socks, gloves, scarves...essentially any winter apparel that can help make the winters more bearable for our city's hearts in need. I will personally distribute the warm goodies to the gorgeous souls living on Chicago's streets, along with "notes of hope" (i.e., handwritten heart-happy messages of love and encouragement).

In addition to literally warming the hearts of Chicagoans in need, my prayer is that Wendell's wonderful words remind you that WE ARE ALL ONE HAPPY HEART - that every life, regardless of the surrounding struggles, deserves endless, unconditional love and kindness!

As Wendell so enthusiastically expressed over breakfast:

"It's a good thing to have prayers said for you, and it's even a greater thing to have the prayers answered."

May this campaign of compassion be a peace-FULL prayer answered for homeless hearts across Chicago - and who knows, maybe even the world! 

Please feel free to visit my instagram page or Tumblr blog for updates on the campaign and your blessed efforts of LOVE and KINDNESS!  

Instagram:
Lauren_LoveandKindness

Twitter:
LaurenLoveJoy22

Tumblr Blog:
www.LaurenLoveandKindness.Tumblr.com

Wishing you oodles of love and joy,
Lauren Hanna :)