SUMMER IS HEEEERE!
Our kids at Vogel Alcove are ready for the summer but may not be ready for the HEAT! Summer camp is in full swing and we want to make sure they have what they need to enjoy their summer. Here's how you can help. Check out our Wish List from Amazon.
WISHLIST
BYE-BYE BAGS
Over 600 Bye-Bye Bags (BBB) have been created and delivered to Vogel Alcove, a non-profit organization that provides a wide range of therapeutic services to children who are experiencing homelessness.
These bags help hungry children who commute from Vogel Alcove to their shelter and are especially needed when families have to rely on public transportation (which can take as long as 2-3 hours). A HUGE thank you to all the artistic kids that helped decorate the bags!
More bags to come! 🙌 Please check out our wishlist and help us continue this cause. Thank you to EVERYONE who supports us through prayers, artistry/creativity in decorating the bags, through financial giving, and/or sending the goodies!
“Be careful that you don't look down on one of these little ones. I say to you that their angels in heaven are always looking into the face of my Father who is in heaven." Matthew 18:10
Homelessness - Reasons Some Remain Where They Are - by Salvador Cariaga
1. The box shelters are like prisons and since most of them have been in jail, they prefer not to go there if they can help it.
2. Most homeless have mental illness and box shelters are close quarters, and not a desirable environment for homeless people.
3. Box shelters require daily ingress and exit. You get in late in the afternoon and leave early with your belongings. Some homeless have cart full of things and they are not allowed to bring them all in. If they are late or the shelter is full, they are out in the streets. Shelters are unstable environment that is not helpful to those with mental illness.
4. Some homeless have pets and most shelters do not allow pets. A pet may be the only true friend a homeless has.
5. Shelters have rules, a lot of rules (and rightfully so), some homeless cannot or will not follow the rules. So they are either kicked out or they will not go back.
6. Most homeless you see in the streets and camps are 'chronic homeless'. To these people, homelessness is a way of life for different reasons. Camping or sleeping in the streets is their preferred way. They have friends or benefactors who visit them or take care of their needs.
7. They can do drugs freely in camps. Most homeless, especially the chronic homeless do drugs. Most will deny it, but in my 3+ years of working with homeless staying in camps, MOST DO DRUGS or alcohol to some degree or another. That is a common denominator in camps along with prostitution.
8. Some homeless stay in camps part of the time and shelters part of the time. They go to shelters to have showers, meals, and stay close to health clinic, hospital, or services provided for the homeless. When it gets too hot or too cold, they go to shelters for a day or two.
The city can offer regulated camps, fence it around, put cameras and wifi. It will be run like shelters, so that the bad homeless, thugs, and drug dealers will not run and control the place. This will be a cheaper option than box shelters, homeless sleeping in sidewalks will be minimized and counseling and other services can be conducted on site. Various non-profits can run these camps, even lessening the financial burden on the
HOMELESS OUTREACH
Homelessness is an ongoing problem throughout the country that no one has been able to eradicate. The complexity of trying to understand the "how" and "why" one becomes homeless along with the political aspect behind it is a task too great for one person/organization to solve. However, together, we can make a difference.
We assisted Mr. Salvador Cariaga, a Filipino missionary, farmer, poverty fighter, human rights activist, environmentalist, and Christian entrepreneur in the Lancaster/Riverside tent city project. He stayed on-site and modeled the love of Christ to those who needed to hear and see it most. He counseled and encouraged the homeless with hope that it would lead to self-sustainability.
We supportted his mission by way of providing supplies, volunteering, and prayers.
"'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “...Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’-Matthew 25:37-40
"One thing I know is that aid is not sustainable. What the poor need is trade. Aid is just a band-aid. It does not build up dignity or create self-sufficiency, but can lead to dependency." - Salvador Cariaga
Reflecting on 2019
Food Drive
ANGEL TREE
12/2019: We successfully wrapped up our project to bring joy to families and children to local schools in the Fort Worth area. It's never too early to start again for 2020. Email us for more information.
10/2019: Thank you to our friends around the U.S. and to DFW Home Health of Fort Worth for helping us with our Angel Tree. Because of you, each child from our tree received gifts for Christmas! A very special thanks go out to Cindy Wunderlich and Dana Davis of DFW HH who worked tirelessly to get the kids off that tree! They went above and beyond the call!