Archive for December, 2006

Six years later, Ms. Ojeda still considers herself fortunate that she quickly learned about Friendly House, the community-based human services organization serving Worcester residents. An agency caseworker quickly linked her up with assistance from the state’s Women, Infants and Children nutrition program that helped her obtain healthful food such as milk, cheese, 100 percent fruit juices, cereals, peanut butter, carrots, tuna, dried beans, and eggs for herself and her then-2-year-old child.

Her exposure to the WIC program and other forms of assistance provided her not only the opportunity for a fresh start on life, she says, but the bridge to a career. Ms. Ojeda is now a caseworker for Friendly House, frequently working with people facing the same predicaments she was. for more

The true meaning of christmas.

For a brief period of time, a community came together.

Santa Claus and plenty of loyal elves were on hand, representing those who have — sharing with those who have not.

For many the hot meal made all the difference. Free blankets and special care bags provided personal essentials and a little dignity.

“I just want to turn around and ask Santa Claus, ‘ How are your deer and Miss Santa doing?’ “ said Vera, one of Austin’s thousands of homeless people. “I wish everybody out there a Merry Christmas.”

The appreciation showed is something volunteers say proves that it is more blessed to give than to receive.
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Better then taking the homeless to see Will’s Smith new movie,would be if will smith gave all the money made from the movie to the homeless themselves.

(Columbia) December 11, 2006 – Can a movie inspire a homeless person to change his or her situation? City of Columbia officials think so, and tonight city workers took several homeless people to a special viewing of the new Will Smith movie.

With popcorn in hand, Matthew Thomas goes to watch a movie, not just for entertainment – for motivation, “A lot of people don’t know how it is to be homeless. This shows you a success story.”

City officials invited Thomas to watch a special screening of “The Pursuit of Happyness.” It’s a movie based on a true story about a homeless single father.

Thomas, like the main character in the movie, is homeless. For several years Thomas has slept in shelters, but hopes one day he’ll have a home.
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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. Dec 3, 2006 (AP)— Rebecca Kelly used to run from her problems. Now, she runs in an effort to solve them. Kelly took her first drink at 14, soon entering the first of what would be many rehabilitation stints. She’s been forced to live on the streets, once got kicked in the face by a male attacker, been completely broke more times than she cares to remember.
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