Winter’s a-coming!  Time to make sure the kids have all their cold weather gear!  Unfortunately, not everyone is in a position to dress their family warmly.  It’s hard to believe, but 1 in 5 children in the U.S. live in households whose earnings fall below the poverty level (2010 U.S. Census).  To make matters worse, we have experienced some of the century’s worst storms, expansive unemployment, and depleted budgets for agencies that support those in need –  extreme circumstances that make meeting basic needs (like warm clothing) a challenge for many families.

In times like these, we need organizations like One Warm Coat that works to ensure that anyone who needs a coat has one.  Providing something as simple yet necessary as a warm coat helps people live better lives.

One Warm Coat helps individuals, groups, and companies collect and deliver coasts to local agencies that distribute them for free.  You can get information for your area by entering your zip code.  In addition to outgrown coats, you can donate sweatshirts, sweaters, gloves, and hats.

So many of us and our kids toss on our fleece sweatshirts or bundle up in our down jackets without giving it much thought.  This season may be a good time to remember that many families have to choose between paying their rent and buying a warm coat for the winter.   Here’s a real opportunity to take the chill out of the air this winter with warm hearts!

© YesKidzCan!, 2011

When you’re involved in the giving back arena, there are some days when you think you have heard pretty much all the inspirational stories out there.  We stand corrected.  This one made quite an impact!

Brad Carter is 44 years old.  Jon Pichardo is 60.  They both live in Daytona Beach and are dedicated to helping the homeless — so much so that they started a nonprofit called HOME (Homeless and Others for Meaningful Exchange.)  This may sound like any number of other organizations interested supporting people with homes.  The difference is that Mr. Carter and Pichardo are homeless themselves.  HOME has around 80 members — most of whom are homeless as well.  About 20-25 of the members meet every Sunday in City Island park and are committed to hearing the voices of the people they serve and seek help for those who can’t help themselves.  They have a website and a newsletter for members.  Their hope is to change stereotypes about the homeless by supporting the community through volunteerism and organizing a music festival that would feature the talents of local homeless people.  In addition, they would like to open another 150-bed homeless shelter in the city.

This story made an impact on us because it shows that giving is not defined by who you are, what you do, or whether you have money in your pocket or even a roof over your head. Mr. Carter and Pichardo are the living examples of “home is where the heart is!”  We hope you share this story and its messages with your kids.

©YesKidzCan!, 2011

(As published in www.cafemom.com, March 31, 2010)

My daughter and I run a lot of errands together.  Most of the time we figure out a way to make going to the grocery store or gas station or bank fun.  But there is one part of these routine stops that has given me some anxiety.  Standing on the median at the same intersection pretty much any time we drive by is the same man with a cardboard sign that reads, “Homeless. Can you spare some change? Hungry, looking for work. God bless.”  

 The man is wearing jeans, a plaid shirt and work boots.  He has a severe limp and uses a cane.  I notice all these things because we drive along side of him – always in a perfect position to roll down the window and hand him some change.  So what do I do?  I press the automatic lock for my car doors. My daughter immediately asks, “Why did you lock the doors, mom?” 

 I am not proud of this response.  On one hand, it is an automatic motherly instinct to keep my daughter safe from an unknown person who is not behaving in a typical fashion.  On the other hand, I ask myself why am I not showing compassion – particularly in front of my daughter?

 I have thought a lot about this.  My daughter knows I am a compassionate person. We have talked at length about the plight of people who are living on the streets or in shelters and the need to support them.  I have chosen to support them by donating money or goods to shelters or nonprofits that help the homeless because I know my contributions are being directed appropriately.

 The hard truth is that I decided to draw the line at rolling down my car window when my daughter is in the car.  Part of my concern comes from an article in local paper from several years ago that profiled people who were posing as homeless people.  Their impersonation was their creative approach for either an occupation or for funding their drinking or drug habits.      

 Since my daughter is now old enough to understand these nuances, I have explained to her exactly why I lock the car door and prefer to support the homeless in a way that gives me greater confidence that I am actually helping.     

 So, I ask this:  Can I be compassionate and a skeptic on this issue at the same time?  I guess my answer is that I will have to live with being both.

©YesKidzCan!, 2010.