Stepping out of a Tyler Perry play one fall weekend in our nation's capital, I was on a cloud. Anyone who has been to any of his live plays knows the euphoric feeling he gives you after a well received message that you just know was intended just for you. You sit in the audience after a good laugh and he steps out to deliver his thank you along with a few more messages. This particular day he called on everyone to be checked for diabetes, eliminate stress over material things, and to help someone less fortunate than yourself. The last stuck out to me as I watched an elderly homeless man dig through a trash can that was literally steps from the doors I had just exited. He proceeded to search through the empty fast food bags as I looked on witnessing him eat the remains of a stranger's meal as if it were his last supper. Now I have seen the homeless plight time and time again but never have I actually witnessed someone ravage a trash can in broad day light and stand over it eating off old chicken bones like so. Yes I've seen them take the contents with them but never to the extent that I ironically witnessed that day.
This is just one example of the crisis here and across the nation. Did you know there are over 12,000 homeless individuals right here in the DC area our nation's capital where the country's biggest decisions are made? Across the country there are over 660,000 reported homeless individuals with anywhere from 2.5-3.5 million people experiencing homelessness at least one night throughout the course of a year. More than half of homeless families have children under the age of 5 in their household. Could you imagine the fear of being reduced to the outside elements losing your sense of protection not knowing where you will receive your next basic necessity? As the winter months near this crisis becomes critical, threatening the lives of so many.
Envy Red has formed a team for the annual Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Walk scheduled for the Saturday before we give thanks on November 20, 2010. We are doing our part one step at a time and you can too. Please make a small, or large if you have it, tax deductible donation and support our team and it's effort. All dollars will go directly to the Help the Homeless Fund. If you are in the DC area and able to walk, register and join our team in the fight against homelessness. Yes it will be cold so remember, when you think you have it bad, there is always someone who has it far worst. Let's do this!
