Im gonna do a fundraising event.

Hi guys,

I know I have been away for 2 weeks now, so so so sorry, but I have still been supporting the cause so don't worry. I have been meeting so many people that feel the same way that I do about the homeless situation. A clothes shop called Stroll in Stoke Newington are putting on a fundraising event to raise money for the homeless which I have volunteered to help with and a hairdressing salon called Puerita's is also putting on an event which I hope to be able to help with.

But to be honest I want to do my own event, that way I can be sure that the money raised is spent correctly. However I do not have a clue as to what I should do or where I should start. I don't want to run before I can walk, so I don't want to do anything tooooo big, just something small but, fun and memorable. Any ideas?

I would really love your ideas!
oxo

Someone help me please!

How do I stop following another blog? Sorry if I am being blonde but I can't seem to work it out.

What is there to think about?

Did anyone watch a programme last week called Great British Waste Menu?

For any of you who didn't it was programme screened on BBC1 that highlighted the amount of food that our nations supermarkets waste because they have reached their sell by date, are mis-shaped or have torn packaging. The food was analysed and said to be fresh and perfectly edible. After watching this programme I was inspired to approach my local supermarkets and convenience stores to ask them of they could donate some of their 'waste' to the homeless.

I have a friend whose Dad runs a bakery. Therefore it seemed like a good idea to start there. So I called him. I firstly explained what I have been doing to try to help the homeless. I then explained what I wanted him to do to help me. I said "I am not asking you for any of your profitable goods, I am only asking you to donate the bread that has reached it sell by date or is mis- shaped and unable to sell." His immediate reply without even thinking about it was "Well no! Coz I dump it!" I managed to remain calm and I said "well seeing as you do usually 'dump it' can I have all of the bread you would usually dump?" he replied that he would think about it. The conversation did not end there however the end result is that he is still thinking about it. But what on earth is there to think about? Am I being ignorant, is there a valid reason why 'dumped' bread' cannot be donated to those who actually want it, or is he just a fool? tutt tutt

I am yet to actually contact my local supermarkets and convenience stores, although I have drafted out a letter I am yet to send it because I am no longer as confident about the success as I was when I originally thought about it. I promise to send out the letters on Monday, I will follow them up mid - week and let yo all know the feedback.

Pray for me please.

Bank Holiday Travels!!!!!!!!

I will upload some more pictures real soon guys!

I think these Community Support Police Officers are really starting to do my head in. They don't have the power to do any 'real' police duties so on bank holiday Monday, in central London just after the Notting Hill Carnival the only thing they can find to do is harass the homeless, tut tut!

On the menu tonight was:

Ham Rolls
Crisps
Apples
Orange Juice

My little sister donated some money towards the cause so I will be going out 2 times this week (God willing), thanks lil sis. :-)

I went to all of the usual places, Eugene (I know his name now, lol) was back on All Souls Church, he says he has found another spot on Oxford Street that he quite likes and that is probably why I didn't see him last week. Tommy is still missing (well missing from his usual spot on Charing Cross Road) and there was no one that I could ask for him as he is the only person I go to Charing Cross Road for :-( . Trafalgar Square and Victoria Embankment were even busier then usual, but still no signs of Jerry. There were some newbies (well new to me) in his spot they said they knew him, but that they hadn't seen him in a couple of weeks, I hope I see him again soon.

Until next time, goodnight from me.oxo

It is still raining!

It is still raining! After 3 days of non - stop rain, I can't help but think about the homeless people I have met in central London and wonder where they are finding shelter. The homeless shelters cannot house them all and can only house them for a night at a time. The grass in Regents park where Louie lives (a homeless guy I met on the stairway of 'All Souls Church' Regents street) with his neighbours must me soaking wet. Their limited blankets must be soaked through.

Then I came across this passage in the Bible, Psalm 74:16-17 " Yours is the day, Yours also is the night... You have made summer and winter." God has a plan, he knows what he is doing and so I pray that God gives them the strength to be patient, tomorrow is a new day.

God bless the homeless.

In need of some ideas

I am young and inexperienced, however I feel that love goes a long way and I have a lot of love in me to be shared. A wise businessman reminded me this week of the importance of teaching people how to help themselves. If that wise businessman is reading this, thank you so much for your advice.

So I am going to continue to feed the homeless and at the same time try to do my bit in teaching those I meet how to help themselves and better their situations. I am in no way trying to be patronising to the homeless, or suggest that they are ignorant, I am still in a learning position myself and I fully understand that many of the homeless want to be homeless. However I still believe that little things can go a long way.

So with that in mind I have decided that the first 'little thing' I am going to do is print out a list of all of the local organisations that feed the homeless to give to those that do not currently have that information. Do you have any more ideas of 'little things' I can do to help me in my quest?

I would really appreciate your advice.

Feeding The Homeless

I have a heart for the homeless. For quite some while now I have been considering what I can do to help with the homeless situation within central London. So a month ago I decided that I would try to feed some of the homeless in central London. I do not work for any charity and I haven't been instructed to do so by my church or by any organisation. I am not doing it for any financial reward I just want to give something back to society. Yes, I do know that I could have simply voluntared for a charity or even donated money, however I wanted to do something more personal.

On the 17th July I made some sandwiches and bought a variety pack of crisps. My prior research sent me to Kings Coss and Euston road in London with the aim of feeding 10 homeless people. A few close friends accompanied me but we found no-one in Kings Cross or Euston Road. Maybe we were just looking in the wrong places. So we drove to the west end and from Oxford street to Tottenham Court road we fed 7 people. I didnt make my target but I didnt give up.

On the 26th July I made my second trip to feed the homeless. One close friend of mine accompanied me. This time the menu was a bit fuller and my confidence in finding more homeless people even greater. On the menu was:

• Cheese and ham sandwiches
• Crisps
• Custard cream buscuits
• Clementines
• Orange juice

We drove straight to Oxford street. The first person we fed was a guy named Tommy. We met him the previous occasion also and he remembered my face which was really heart warming. I introduced myself to him and we spoke briefly before we drove to Regents street and then Embankment. In Embankment we Jerry he was so nice and friendly and as I gave him his food he immediatly walked futher down the cul der sac where he was living to share it with some other homeless guys because he didn't know if we were going to feed them also. We did feed them, also and they were also extremely grateful. I will never forget Jerry's kindness. My target again was 10 but we took extra resources just in case I had a feeling it would be a successful night, we fed 11 people altogether, YAY, thankyou God. :-)

I have made that journey twice more since then, feeding more people each time and getting to know the same homeless people more and more each time. Having longer conversations with them and learning more about them and their lives. Tonight (22nd August 2010) for the first time I went alone and for the first time I did not see Tommy or Jerry which worries me. It was raining so maybe they have found a shelter for the night, which is what I was told by an eastern European homeless guy by St. Pauls Cathedral. I will pray for them tonight and with God's grace I will meet them again soon.