November is officially the beginning of the holiday season. Thanksgiving's Day food, Black Friday sales, and Christmas decorations are being prepared for American shoppers across the country. While we begin to shop 'til we drop, think about what we're thankful for and make plans to spend time with family and friends, unfortunately there are millions of people across the country who will not be able to experience these luxuries.
According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, in 2014 578,424 Americans experienced homelessness. 216,197 of the people were in families and 362,163 were individuals. There are many factors to the causes of homelessness and this phenomenon effects people of all ages. To fight the homelessness, many groups, organizations, and individuals of different cities have created initiatives that target the termination of homelessness and poverty.
One concerned Chicagoan, Tamica Lankford created a group on Facebook called "Helping Chicago's Homeless". This month she and other members of the group will be passing out care bags to Chicago's homeless population. On why she started this movement, Tamica states that:
"I started this group after looking for volunteer opportunities for my daughter and I, and not finding many things that would let us really help people. I didn't want to plant trees or just give time at places, I want to teach her the importance of caring and giving and hoped to get a group of my friends and I to go out with care bags, and it grew to almost 800 people super fast! We hope to join forces with other organizations that go directly to the homeless camps and get out there and really help the homeless people of Chicago."
Tamica is also raising money to purchase supplies such as toothpaste, tampons, gift cards, and ziploc bags for the care bag distribution days, which will be on the 14th and 17th of November at two different locations in Chicago and in the Chicago area. Participants are also welcomed to donate items for the care bags as well. Tamica wishes to make this event something to do every few months to help the homeless in the city. Kudos to you and your activism, Tamica.
For more information you can check the links below:
Donation Page: https://www.youcaring.com/chicago-s-homeless-by-way-of-tamica-lankford-445130/update/389735
Group Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1052939354803771/
Donation Drop-Off Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1075019489197072/
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