February 9, 2019

We hope this day has found y’all doing well, or at least as well as can be expected. I truly hope you will read this post in its entirety. Admittedly, we usually give an update on our Sack Lunch Program the same day, however yesterday I had a crisis of conscience. So speaking only for myself, I started to have some doubts about our mission. I began to wonder if we have reached a point at which empathy has turned into enabling. I only say this, because we frequently encounter people who tend to forget or act as if they are the only ones in need, and instead of asking for what they need, they ask for what they see. For example, we take out clothing, and we try to spread the love to everyone on our route. We started our Family and Friends Program to address this very issue, because it allows us to track what we disburse, to who we disbursed it to, and when. So basically, I know if we’ve given you a jacket, and knowing this allows us to prioritize distribution of certain items more evenly. Basically, we can’t give the same person a jacket 2 weeks in a row, regardless of the reason, if there’s someone right there who we know has yet to receive one. It’s not perfect, but I hope you get the point. In addition, we are trying to ensure that we give everyone we encounter a lunch, and for the participants in the Family & Friends Program, we have extra sandwiches, waters, and snacks items available, if they want more. We do this to discourage people from feeling the need to be deceitful, just because they want more food. “A closed mouth doesn’t get fed.” We’re not here to say “No”, but that doesn’t guarantee an automatic “Yes” to every request. Well yesterday was especially trying from the beginning, because it’s cold and it’s just damn near impossible to tell people “No” in the rain and cold. So I am learning, and it’s a continuous education to say the least, but I also realize you have to weigh the negatives with the positives. Well while we were at the library, an early stop in our run, I saw Mike again, and his presence reminded me of why we deal with the extra issues. You see Mike is a veteran, and if anything, there shouldn’t be any homeless veterans or children for so many reasons. When I saw Mike, who is a program participant, I offered him everything including his Blessing Bag( toiletries bag), he was thankful and said as much. But here’s the kicker, MIKE the HOMELESS VETERAN 🇺🇸reached in his bag, grabbed his Blessing Bag and handed it back to me. He said he had been blessed with toiletries, and that it needed to go to someone who needed it more. He then shook my hand and thanked me for my work. ”WOW!!” I immediately said, “I can only do what I do, because veterans such as yourself have fought and served to protect our freedoms to choose. I chose to do this Mike, it’s in my heart.” Then he gave me a hug!! A moment worthy of joyful tears. Just beautiful and reaffirming!! ❤️✊🏾✊🏼✊🏻🇺🇸 Mike, and others like Mike are why we will continue to work with everyone, including our friends who haven’t really grasped the idea that, we are gonna keep coming back every week, with the hopes of doing more and more to help them pull out of their circumstances, and eventually doing so on a daily basis. Facility one day!!🤞🏾So thanks Mike, because I spent all night figuring out how to get better at what we’re trying to accomplish, and you’ve shown me the value of staying the course!! We love all of our friends, and sometimes we must love them in spite of themselves, because that’s how my family loved and supported me in my time of personal peril, and you see where it’s gotten me!! ❤️🖤💚💛 Always give out, before you give up, especially if it’s family!! 🤗 So with that said, if you know what you’re doing is right, because it feels right, don’t lose faith, stay the course, and at some point you too will meet your metaphorical Mike and get your positive reaffirmation. When you do, you’ll know it, but what you do from that point on, is entirely up to you. As for me, rather us, we’ll see y’all in the streets next week “My Friends!” 😉
Well that’s all for now. I hope you all have a wonderful day with your families and friends. Please keep in mind that the homeless situation is bad and getting worse. We promise to do what we can, and we are ever mindful of not making a bad situation worse. Just know that it should never be acceptable to have Veterans being homeless, period. If there are any issues, from financial to mental, even criminal in some cases, they should all be addressed, because that’s who we are as a nation. And since we’re not doing our best, we need to step up our game to meet the challenge. Let’s stand up for our veterans who have laid the lives on the line for us back here at home. It’s the right thing to do, because it’s the only thing to do! So Peace , and May God continue to Bless Us All!!✌🏾🙏🏾

“HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH!!”

P.S. To date the MLK Humanity Project has served 10,730 sack lunches, homemade meals, hot and cold cereal breakfasts, and family packages throughout the Vallejo area. It is our profound commitment to continue to help those who want to help themselves, and those who unfortunately no longer can!! Thanks to all of our donors, volunteers, and supporters! We will continue to do what we can as long as we can, but we need your support. At the very least, we ask that you help us spread our message of love and kindness. Like we say, “Liking us is lovely, but sharing is caring, so help us spread the word!”🙏🏾🤞🏾

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“SOMETIMES GOD BLESSES OTHERS THROUGH US!”🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

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