Project Kengikat

73 Thousand Each Night

// August 1st, 2010 // HIV and AIDS, Homeless Outreach

I know, it’s been a long time since I’ve posted a blog, but I hurt my wrist from not sitting at the correct level at the computer and then for the past 5 days my Sickle Cell has really been bothering me.

As many of you know August is the month that I have picked to do my large Do Something Saturday and Unpluggin’ HIV outreaches. The goal was to have enough supplies to make at least 600 Do Something and Life Kits for people who are homeless and for people battling HIV and AIDS here in Los Angeles.

This is a very huge undertaking for me and I knew from the time I started that I may not reach my goal, but I was still willing to do all I could to at least try. I started by asking all my friends and supporters if they would help out, I also mail over 100 letters to hotels and large companies. In addition I also made a few videos on my YOUTUBE channel and yes, I even blogged it as well.

Like always, right away I had an overwhelming amount of people make comments on my video saying they would help, but just like I knew would happen, more the 95% of the people who made comments were simply making comments. They never stepped forward to help. However there were those who kept their would and I was able to supplies for this outreach. I have received 92 of the 100 requests for support back and all of them said “We are unable to help at this time.” Many of the reasons given were, “we support the united way, blue cross” and other organizations.

However with the help of my friends and loyal supporters I have been able to get enough supplies to make at least 50 kits, now this is far short of the goal of 600, but today is only August 1, 2010 and I still have the rest of this month to raise more supplies for the outreach. While I don’t like to fail at anything I set out to do, it is clear that I may have a accept a small defeat this time around.

People have asked me why I care so much and why I spend so much time trying to do whatever I can to help people and the answer is always very simple to me, but to be very honest I never get why people ask me this in the first place, just like I never get why people tell me to get some rest or you can’t help everyone. Well I could help more if people like this would be of their word and follow through. I do it because it is the right thing to do and I was once and in many ways still very much am, one of those people who are in need of help.

It is estimated that there are about 73 thousand people who are homeless here in Los Angeles County each night. I was once one of those people and had it not been for people like Tina and Andy, who started reading my blog and then began to care, people like Ryan and Monia, who also found me through my blog, Eric and Willow who I met through Ryan and Moina and Krystal and Patrick who I met through a former friend and for some pretty cool people who read my blog and watch my YOUTUBE videos I have been able to do what so many said I could never do. What some said would not last simply because I was homeless, or they had made up in their mind that was not worth damn, has now lasted more then 3 years and is getting stronger with each outreach.

These people believed in me and what I am doing when others simply laughed tried to get me to stop doing it. Theyshow up, help out and support my efforts each and every time I ask and for this I am so happy and thankful. Through them many of their friends and families have also started helping when they can and the end result has been awesome.

People always asked me where I get my energy, drive and motivation to keep moving forward with my work, especially when they realize that I am not paid for what I do. Again the answer is very simple, I was once on the streets, I know what it is like to wear the same socks for weeks at a time, I know what it is like not to have a place to take a shower, get a decent meal or even have a kind word. I try very hard to take the hardships in my own life and try to create something awesome out of it.

More the 90% of the people in my life are a huge inspiration, motivation and give me the energy and courage to do what I do. This combined with the awesome “home training” I was raised with and my unshakable FAITH, makes what I do so much fun. However it is hard work and there have been many tears along the way, but in the end it has all been well worth it. The other 10% comes from people who simply talk, say what they will do and then do nothing, more then anything else these people remind of places that I turned to for help when I was on the streets, they never came through, but motivated me to all I could to make things happen for myself and others.

So it’s August 1, 2010 and for the rest of the month I will work as hard as I can to get enough supplies to make 600 Do Something and Life Kits to GIVE to people who are homeless and to people battling HIV and AIDS here in Los Angeles. My Nana use to always say “If I can’t do it, then Skippy is a damn liar”

I have to say that my biggest motivation is what I see by simply looking out my window, riding the bus or walking. You can’t live here in Los Angeles and not see a homeless people. I can either ignore them or act like there is nothing I can do to try to help, I can even make up plenty of excuses as to why I should not help, but the bottom line is that by doing this I am part of the problem and I would much rather be part of the solution.

In close I would be remiss if I do not mention another motivation and huge inspiration that comes from every day people who email me, text me or call me and say, “I have some awesome clothes to donate” or “I want to buy some gift cards” People who think with their hearts not wanting anything in return.