Project Kengikat

Just Believe

// February 7th, 2010 // Uncategorized

February 3, 2010 marked 3 years since I created my organization and the main, most visible and respected outreach, Do Something Saturday and Saturday February 6, 2010 marked the 3 year anniversary outreach for homeless people in Santa Monica and Venice Beach. So much has taken place in the last three years and there was so much to celebrate, not just for the organization, but for me as well. I am glad I was able to celebrate in the company of two awesome friends and my amazing dog Dodger.

I’ve been planning the 3 year anniversary outreach for about three months and Saturday February 6, 2010 all my planning, organizing, phone calling, asking for help, long days and even longer nights combined with the honest efforts and support of friends and supporters from Los Angeles and beyond, it all paid off with a huge reward of simply doing my best to stand in the gap to help those who have far less.

This is what these three years have been about……helping people, against all odds, no matter what is taking place in my own life, no matter how high the mountain may seem, no matter how long or rough the road my be. No matter who says it can’t be done and no matter who tried to stand in my, the drive, passion and goal has always been to “be of service” to someone who is in need and to do so without guilt, shame, disrespect, red tape, or an empty attempt….connection without bureaucracy!!

Originally the plan was for this outreach to be a bike ride along Santa Monica Beach to Venice Beach passing out DoSomething Kits to homeless people, but these plans had to be changed because of rain, in fact I almost had to change the date for the following weekend because it was supposed to rain all day of Saturday, but thanks to some prays we only got a little wet. It was dry for more the 95% of the outreach with the bonus of SUN at the end.

Right away I knew I had to do all that I could to secure donations for the Do Something Kits, so right away I sent out emails to people who have always supported my efforts and right away one by one each of them stepped up, honored their word and came through. There were many surprises along the way from people on YOUTUBE who also joined in to help make this anniversary a very special one for me.

For three months I have been taking any extra money that I have left over after paying rent and bills and purchasing items for the kits, I also used my recycling money as well as the money I was paid for the two cooking gigs I was able to do. For me this meant that I would have to be on an even more strict  budget and I could not allow anything to derail this outreach….but like I have learned in not just the three years of running my own organization, but from a life time of community service, that the best laid out plans will come with plenty of road blocks, obstacles as well as set backs. However this time I was better prepared for them and when they took place I didn’t spend much time worrying about them. I spent more time getting past them.

For example, since being in my own place I knew I would need to make certain that all my bills are as basic as I can have them. I do not have cable TV or any extras…..well I guess some people would call the internet an extra, but for me this is a basic need because without it I would be spending money going back and forth to the library or coffee houses to use wifi. I made sure all my bills were at the low income rate and all bills were with the exception of one, my bill from the DWP was always very high and many times almost didn’t get paid at all. Each time I called to see why my application had not been processed and why my rate was so high and each time I was told that they never received my application, even though twice I turned it in the the field off on the very same block where I live.

When the bill came for this month, I was really bothered, so I called again and I tried to speak with the first rep. That came to the line, but he was unhelpful and to be honest very rude and dismissive. “Sir sometimes things get lost and even take up to 3 months. It’s a process and you have to be patient” is what he told me. Well I had heard “It’s a process and you have to be patient” for too many times in my 29 months of homelessness and what I have learned is that it is just an excuse or a complete failure in someone not doing what they are paid to do and the only person who gets affected by this is me. I was not about to start taking the fall for someone else not doing their jobs, so I asked him if I could speak with his supervisor. After about 3 minutes and him telling me there was nothing the supervisor could do, he gave in and had his supervisor come of the line.

I explained what the problem was, just as I had done with him and even though it did take her a long while, the matter was corrected and I am now signed up for the low income rate. She even told me about another plan that could get my rate even lower, I just needed my doctor to complete the paperwork. By the end of the call that lasted some 46 minutes I was now enrolled in the low income program for the DWP, my current bill would be reissued and I would be given credit for the bills I had already paid. The supervisor thanked me for being understanding and patient with them, she even offered an apology for the problems I have had. When the new bill came I had over a $90.00 credit to my account. Problem solved, and now I would be able to use the money that would have went on a $50 DWP bill toward supplies for the Do Something Kits. I had been patient for over 9 months and enough was enough, it was time for someone to earn their pay and make the unnecessary “process” go away.

After 5 trips to the 99 Cent Only Store and 3 trips to Target over two weeks, I finally had all the items for for the Do Something Kits I would be putting together. Now I just had to put all 73 kits together. This was going to be fun, but first I had to take Dodger for a walk and then head to Skid Row to meet with the case manager where I do my Unplugging HIV outreach. I also have to go to the doctor and the gym, so I knew I would not be doing the kits that night.

The next day I got a call letting me know that I had been selected to go to Washington DC in April and I needed to meet with the person in charge. The cool thing was that I already knew the guy in charge and once he saw me, we smiled exchanged laughs and talked about the trip. I received my E-Ticket later that afternoon. I was so excited that all I wanted to do was go out to celebrate, so Dodger and I went for a long adventure along Santa Monica Beach with a stop at PETCO to get him some toys with a gift certificate someone gave me for him. That evening I spent talking with my niece letting her know the news and also speaking to some friends. I later went to Tina and Andy’s place to have dinner and help them put together their Do Something Kits. They donated 20 kits.

Thursday I did the last of the shopping and I was all set to start getting the items ready for Saturday. After some timegetting my pub table set up along with the two TV trays I have, I was all set, but I needed to get to the gym so I did some work, but saved the rest for Friday night. WOW was that a long night. Just like I knew would happen, at the last minute someone calls to say they can not purchase the items they said they would, she asked if I could go pick them up and she would give me the money back. I found this very funny because this person knows my money situation very well, they knew I would be unable to do that and even if I could it was already after 8:45PM and the 99 Cent Only Store would be closing in 15 minutes. KICK ROCKS!!!!!

I moved forward with my work and was finally done with the 73 Do Something Kits around 11:45PM. Dodger and I went for our last walk, I loved my car to avoid a ticket, took a shower and was in bed by 12:30AM only be be up the next morning at 7:00AM.

It rained all night the night before and at times it was pretty hard. It was also raining when I got up, so I was glad I had changed the plan on riding bikes. However by 9:15AM the rain was letting up and after calling my friend Eric, he said it was not raining in West LA where he was so we made plans to meet up at 12:00PM at their place. I go the car all packed and Dodger and I were on the road and at Eric and Willows on time. Willow had made some yummy blueberry muffins, so is such a great baker, that I am thinking I will ask her to make my birthday cake next year, LOL. While passing out Do Something Kits  in Santa Monica I joke with the one homeless woman that Willow was related to Sara Lee. We all got a good laugh out of that.

The outreach was awesome and we got to spend time talking with people and listening to their stories. Everyone we encountered were very friendly and very appreciative of our efforts to assist them. One guy even said he didn’t need the Do Something Kit, but when Willow offered one of him scrumptious muffins he could not say no. After about 5 minutes of light rain, we walked down 3rd street where we were able to pass out more Do Something Kits to homeless people before we headed to Venice Beach where we walked along the board walk passing out the kits.

Venice Beach is where we saw “Woo” an older man in his 70’s who has failing kidneys is was just back from dialysis. I met “Woo” last year with Tiffany while we were out doing a picture safari and outreach along the beach in Venice. At the end of our visit with him he told us “Have a great day, just like you planned it” I was so moved by the experience we shared with this kind man I wrote a blog about the day and the encounter with him.

I had not seen “Woo” in a while, so I was starting to think that maybe he had either gotten housing or far worse, hadpassed away, but as we walked toward him I knew exactly who he was. We talked with him for a while and after learning that he had just come from dialysis we tried to find things he could eat. I then offered to get him a slice of pizza and then noticed that we were right near a deli, so I offered a turkey sandwich. The quick thinking of Willow helped preventing us from giving him one of the granola bars made with a flour he can not have. Once we got to the store Eric offered to get the sandwich for “Woo”  and this didn’t come as a surprise to me at all, that is just the kind of people Eric and Willow are. They purchased him a sandwich just they way he requested it and got him a bottle of vitamin water. This was so he could take his medication of a full stomach like he is supposed to. We talked a bit more and finished walking and passing out the kits that we had.

We ended the outreach and then went over to Abbott Kinney Boulevard where Willow and Eric got sandwiches from Abbott’s Habit and I got pizza from Abbott’s Pizza. We sat and got our lunch and enjoyed some awesome conversation before heading back to the car to head back to their place and then home for Dodger and I.

By the end of the day we had passed out 56 Do Something Kits and Dodger and I had spent a full day with two good friends helping people who are homeless. It was a great feeling. Even though some of my friends were not able to make it, they still supported the event and with the support of Eric and Willow along with a last minute donation of supplies that came in once I got home, I will be able to pass out 117 Do Something Kits to homeless people.

So Monday the remaining kits will also help gay youth who are homeless as Dodger and I will take Do Something Kits to the Jeff Griffith Youth Center in West Hollywood, as well as homeless men and women in South Los Angeles as we will take Do Something Kits to the Oasis House that serves homeless people in the South Los Angeles area.

I would be remiss if I did not take the time to thank everyone from my YOUTUBE Channel who helped me in this effort to be of service to those in need. Your donations helped me reach my goal and really makes a difference in the lives of all who received them. Thank you so much.

Eric and Willow, since I first met you, you’ve been awesome supporters of my organization as well as my efforts, but you’ve also been two incredible cool and amazing people that I am both humbled and honor to have as friends. Thank you so much for braving the cold day and then the rain that we walked through in order to try to be of service to homeless people in Santa Monica and Venice. Dodger and I always have a blast chilling out with you two. Willow you can bake muffins, brownies, cupcakes or anything else anytime you please. You are a true wiz in the kitchen. You guys also need to come over for dinner very soon. Tina and Andy, although you were unable to make it, your donations made your presence felt and I am so appreciative of you continuing support and friendship.

I know many call me an inspiration, angel and all kinds of nice things, but it is people like Eric, Willow, Tina and Andy along with all who have supported and encouraged me, where I gain my true inspiration, the drive to keep doing all that I can to help those in need and not look to the White House to make CHANGE happen, but do all I can in my own community to encourage, grow and be part of CHANGE. It is from your love and friendships, the support of my efforts and the laughs we share along the way that have made this the best 3 years of helping people and it pushes me to strive harder, speak up louder and do all I can to help people no matter what.

WOW, so it has been three years of Do Something Saturday and to think there was those who said it wouldn’t last three months, said it couldn’t last without their so called support, that buying burgers for homeless people was pointless and that providing Do Something Kits was not empowering. Well guess what? Not only has it lasted 3 years, but as long as there is life in this body of mine, this mission will move forward in love and respect for humanity, because at the end of the day, when it is all said and done, it is not up to those was say “you can’t help” it is not up to anyone other then me. All I have to do is trust and believe in the hearts and kindness of humanity that fully understand what I am doing and get involved for the right reasons, this mission will continue to serve people in need.

Do Something Saturday~that empowers people!!!! You ask who knew? I knew!! Because I refuse to give up and “NO” is like taking vitamins, they only make me stronger. As long as we believe, then all things are possible and I believe in the good in humanity and I am willing to work hard at building it.