Our 3rd Annual Project Winter Warm Up! 2017
After months of preparation, contributions of many generous donors, and the help of MANY compassionate people, we successfully completed our 3rd Annual Project Winter Warm Up!.
We adjusted our goal and donation focus this year to enable us to have a greater impact. HUGE shout out to Bowen’s Tiger Rock Martial Arts for their collaboration and hard work as a collection and project partner. Every time we hit the streets to distribute, we learn more about the needs of those we serve. Being a hands-on project based nonprofit allows us to personally interact with this often forgotten community and learn about them as individuals and learn from them what it takes to survive on the streets. We use that information to make certain we are providing what they really need. Last year we added new socks and underwear to our distribution, and this year we added backpacks.
We collected 108 backpacks, 154 coats and jackets, 155 hats and scarves, 115 pair of gloves, 175 new pair of underwear, 180 new pair of socks, 140 blankets, and other warm items.
Board members and volunteers gathered for a workday where donations were separated by gender and size and packed into backpacks for distribution.
We were once again generously donated the use of a cargo van this year. Distribution was Friday evening; December 15, 2017. Historically this weekend in December is always one of the coldest of the month. This year was no exception.
Last year we were able to locate the bridge that 3 years prior started the spark in our hearts that has now become The Bridge of Compassion Foundation. We began our distribution this year there at the bridge and then continued on to other locations throughout the city.
Every year this project is a very heart-wrenching and emotionally charged experience. This year it was even more so. You can never prepare yourself. We will be forever changed by that night. Changed by what we saw, by the life stories that we heard, and most importantly that the compassion and gratitude of the community we serve is greater than their despair.
We were humbled and grateful for of the support that we received this year. 2017 was a year of many natural disasters and tragedies that needed great support, yet we were able to not only meet our projected goal, but also exceed it thanks to the generous contributions from our donors, our awesome drop-off location partners, and our amazing team. HUGE thanks to you all!!!!
Here are a few pictures from distribution night …..
