Archive for Wednesday, November 14, 2007
High school senior’s ‘survival kits’ for homeless more than a project
November 14, 2007
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Baldwin High senior helps the homeless
One young man goes above and beyond the call of duty to help the homeless tonight. The Baldwin High senior says he did it because once, he was in their shoes. Enlarge video
"Hugs by Rob" contents
Baldwin High senior Robbie Brewster discusses the contents of the "Hugs by Rob" bags he passed out to homeless people at the Community Drop-In Center. Enlarge video
Baldwin City High School senior Robbie Brewster, 17, right, passes out a “survival kit” to Mattie Mincey at the Community Drop-In Center. Brewster assembled and passed out 50 of the kits Tuesday; they included blankets, food, shampoo, soap, books and other items for people entering the winter season homeless.
A Baldwin City teen’s school project lit up faces at the Community Drop-In Center on Tuesday night.
Seventeen-year-old Robbie Brewster shyly passed out backpacks and totebags to a crowded house of people who are entering the winter season in a state of homelessness.
Some recipients quietly received the bags and stepped out of the crowd. Others gave Brewster elaborate handshakes and high-fives.
“This is exceptional — the magnitude of it, the number of gifts, and the thoughtfulness of one young man organizing this,” said Loring Henderson, director of the Lawrence Community Shelter.
Brewster’s “survival kits” contained blankets, canned sausages, nuts, shampoo, soap, deodorant, razors, combs and other toiletries, books and Bibles. He passed out 50 packs.
The effort was part of a senior project that Brewster must complete to get his diploma. But his goals were bigger than a school assignment.
Adopted at age 3, Brewster said his early years with his biological parents were filled with struggle. His background made him want to change things. He volunteers at the Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen.
And for this project, he placed donations boxes at school and at church. If the items he needed weren’t donated, he bought them himself.
“I always wanted to put a stop to hunger and homelessness,” he said.
Brian Blevins, a case manager, said the center is in constant need of items. Just when things start to run out, an act of generosity replenishes the stock, he said.
“It’s strange, we always seem to make it,” Blevins said. “It’s things like this that happen sporadically when we need it. I just went through the last blanket we had over there and then these pop in. It’s just really strange. It always works out.”
After passing out a pack to one man, Brewster noticed that the man was drawing pictures on sheets of white paper. When Brewster mentioned it, the man offered to sketch Brewster’s portrait. A bit later, the sketch appeared and Brewster shyly thanked the man.
Another person who’d picked up a bag yelled in from the back door: “I got my Bible! Thank you! Love God!”
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14 November 2007 at 8:41 a.m.
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consumer1 (Anonymous) says…
This is very thoughtful, much like the coat give away. However, it is my experience, we will find these blankets left lying around littering the parks when the weather is warm. Just like the coats
14 November 2007 at 9:05 a.m.
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bluerose (Anonymous) says…
…there be angels among us.
14 November 2007 at 9:09 a.m.
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b3 (Anonymous) says…
Another misguided youth.
14 November 2007 at 9:19 a.m.
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coolmarv (Anonymous) says…
How so b3?
Robbie is 'my' saint of the day.
14 November 2007 at 9:24 a.m.
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OldEnuf2BYurDad (Anonymous) says…
B3: Another misguided message board poster.
I'm going to assume that B3 was joking. I'd like to think that we can “enjoy” this story without the usual silliness on the boards.
14 November 2007 at 9:25 a.m.
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b3 (Anonymous) says…
When he gets older he will realize that he is wasting his time and efforts on people who dont care.
14 November 2007 at 9:30 a.m.
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b3 (Anonymous) says…
No joke. Unfortunately there are some people out who are not worth our time. Until they start making some effort to improve their own lives, no help should be given to them.
14 November 2007 at 9:32 a.m.
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llama726 (Anonymous) says…
b3:
I really sincerely hope some horrible tragedy doesn't befall you, because it would be awful for you to have to experience what many of the homeless in this country experience.
No compassion for your fellow human… Really sad.
I applaud this kid's efforts, though. Doing something to make an impact.
14 November 2007 at 9:43 a.m.
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leftlawrenceafter30years (Anonymous) says…
Empathy seems to be in short supply these days. I find it refreshing that a mere teenager accomplished this project. Now imagine if each individual did something similar. I have been working on a poverty initiative in Iowa for nearly a year and it is always a surprise to folks here that there is a homeless population in rural Iowa. If someone is sleeping on someone elses sofa then they are homeless. There are many faces to poverty and for the most part they are invisible to most Americans as they go about their daily lives.
Robbies concern that someone not freeze is very real. If the so called Christians would do more than go to church and put something in the collection plate to be sent off to help some starving children in a foreign country and instead took the time to look around them, they might really see that we have poor children and adults right here in our midst.
The poverty rate in my rural county is nearly 15% and the young and the elderly represent the largest share of that number. It is extremely difficult to climb out of poverty. In a small community it is even more difficult because of the stigma attached and the belief that everyone will know they have come in for help. With the help of people of all economic levels within our community we are making a dent and quite possibly reversing the cycle of poverty for some.
It can't be done by the rich giving handouts-any effort to reduce poverty and it's attendant issues must have the involvement and buy in of the poorest. Empowerment is a strong motivator. Poor doesn't mean that someone is ignorant, it just means that they need a hand up and a chance to improve.
So, instead of criticizing this young man, ask yourself what you might do to alleviate poverty and homelessness.
14 November 2007 at 10:01 a.m.
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motomom (Anonymous) says…
i remember several years ago,when a girl named emily did the same thing. i believe she collected 84 backpacks and handed them out, too. i have heard that several of the guests at the community shelter STILL to this very day thank her for those. emily also threw monthly birthday parties for many years, but now the youth volunteer council does that because she is doing other community service. hats off to you, robbie…..keep up the great work…..
14 November 2007 at 10:14 a.m.
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mommaeffortx2 (Anonymous) says…
If this kid helps one person from dieing then all the negative posts are worth it. In my opinion.
14 November 2007 at 10:23 a.m.
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b3 (Anonymous) says…
At 17 I was in highschool and getting ready for a college education so I would not have ask for handouts later in life, rather than smoking pot and being lazy and preparing for a life of uselessness.
14 November 2007 at 10:25 a.m.
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institches (Anonymous) says…
This compassionate effort by Robbie may save a life, may uplift those to get the help they need or get a job, whatever. I am so glad to read about a young person who does the right thing for no other reason than it is the right thing to do. Well done! B3- shame on you.
14 November 2007 at 10:37 a.m.
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coolmarv (Anonymous) says…
b3 should go back and read b3's last 50 posts and then ask “what good?” is b3 doing for the community. b3 had the gall to call someone else a 'hate monger'. Enjoy that college education. It certainly didn't make you a better person. Please!
Not b3 but BS!
14 November 2007 at 10:42 a.m.
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acg (Anonymous) says…
Good job Robbie! You're a good kid, with a great attitude and a real sense of community. If, by chance, you ever read this board, please pay no attention to d-bags like b3, who will be down on everything they see or do. Some people are just hateful that way. We can all rest easy in the knowledge that he will die alone and miserable, probably in a dirty little 1 room apartment that smells like old cheese and cats.
14 November 2007 at 10:43 a.m.
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BikerGrandma (Anonymous) says…
b3 - not all persons who are homeless are drug addicts, etc. Many have just fallen on hard times - something that could happen to anyone. Given the times we live in, more and more people are just one paycheck away from being homeless. I agree with those that wrote that if just one person is saved, this young man's efforts are worth it. So what if we find some of these blankets lying in a park in the spring - they will have served their purpose of keeping someone from freezing this winter. Kudos to this young man for caring about someone other than himself.
14 November 2007 at 10:50 a.m.
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pace (Anonymous) says…
what good and practical work. good for him.
14 November 2007 at 10:53 a.m.
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b3 (Anonymous) says…
What can I say, I dislike lazy people. However, Lawrence being what it is I am not shooked that a lot of people here like lazy people. The more people that they can get to be lazy too the better they will feel about themselves. The old 'while everyone else is doing it' cop out.
14 November 2007 at 10:55 a.m.
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OldEnuf2BYurDad (Anonymous) says…
“Unfortunately there are some people out who are not worth our time.” - B3
“While we were yet sinners, Christ DIED for the unGodly” - Paul, the apostle
I suspect that B3 is one of us Christians, but the kind who sees himself as “above” others. I believe in a tough approach to the homeless problem (just read a few of my posts and that is clear), but to say that some people are not worth our time… that's sinful and sick.
14 November 2007 at 10:55 a.m.
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pace (Anonymous) says…
You guys, don't respond to B3, it was explained to me that b3 isn't human, it is just a poor pile of left over residue of someone that was jealous for attention and no longer has heart or brain. It is just an emotional puddle that makes negative remarks when it can figure out that someone out there has hope and energy.
14 November 2007 at 11:15 a.m.
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hawkperchedatriverfront (Anonymous) says…
I have to admire robbie, we all felt that way in our youth but were usually guided by the unguided. I remember our church group preparing a basket for a needy family. Someone in the church brought a brand new electric blanket. One of the girls in our group, who was poor and knew what poor families needed, commented after we delivered the “basket”, how ridiculous it was that we provided an electric blanket to a family that probably couldn't pay the electric bill AND the cost of the one electric blanket would have bought 4 or 5 regular blankets and everyone in the family would have had one. A learning experience as was robbies
I hope he goes back in a few weeks and sees the blankets on the ground in the parking lot to the east, behind the garage of the owner of the Drop in Center and/or sees them in the dumpster because they are dirty.
I hope the young man's benevolence continues thoughout his life but he learns early on where to direct it.
14 November 2007 at 11:16 a.m.
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janeb (Anonymous) says…
When you watch the video is becomes clearer b3. I suppose in part what you say is true. That there are some who good deeds are wasted on, but it is impossible to know who those people are visually. Here you have a kid who grew up without many of the basics, he was fortunate to have been adopted and found a loving family that fulfilled those things lacking and much more I am sure. Maybe this kid is doing what he is because there were times in his previous life when people who could have helped walked right by. As for coats and blankets being left in parks during summer months; do tell us what a person with no home is suppose to do with excess items. I mean it isn't like they have a hall closet to store out of season clothing.
14 November 2007 at 11:42 a.m.
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consumer1 (Anonymous) says…
What to do with the coats and blankets. How about donating them to the Thrift stores?, or if they are in bad shape how about throwing them in a dumpster. Instead of leaving them where you last used them? Being impoverished doesn't mean you have no responsibility to keep the community that cares for you clean. This kid is doing a wonderful thing, and will surely be blessed for his selfless attitude.
14 November 2007 at 1:04 p.m.
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lexi (Anonymous) says…
I agree with b3… I worked downtown for 4 years and not only had to deal with the homeless but my customers did as well. I do applaude this kid for trying to make an effort; he just hasn't had to deal with the homeless as I have. When I would go out and feed the meters every 2 hours I would constantly have the homeless bother me and bug me for any “extra change” I had. If they could only put as much effort into trying to get off the street as they do bug the paying citizens!
14 November 2007 at 1:15 p.m.
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kujeeper (Anonymous) says…
b3 has a valid point, the majority of those that are homeless are that way due to be a lazy person or making uneducated decisions that placed them there. The excuses blamed on living wages and such are just that, excuses. Most of the homeless choose to remain homeless, it's easy…
14 November 2007 at 2:15 p.m.
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Paul R. Getto (Paul R. Getto) says…
“I am an invisible man… I am a man of substance, of flesh and bone, fiber and liquids – and I might even be said to possess a mind. I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Most of you whining are more than likely only a paycheck away from being homeless. You should all be ashamed.
14 November 2007 at 2:52 p.m.
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Kam_Fong_as_Chin_Ho (Anonymous) says…
Most of you whining are more than likely only a paycheck away from being homeless. You should all be ashamed.
=============
The difference however is that most of the “whiners” as you call them would take action to get back on their feet rather than rely on liquor to solve the problem. I'm glad this young man is helping the poor, but a more effective approach would be to teach them to become self-reliant. Give a man a fish and feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. They need a hand-up, not a handout.
14 November 2007 at 3:04 p.m.
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Paul R. Getto (Paul R. Getto) says…
It’s true that there are homeless who are content to remain homeless, but just as a coin has two sides, it is also true that there are many homeless who desperately want to escape life on the streets. The experience of homelessness causes them to constantly second guess and question every decision, every choice, every attempt to rise above homelessness. This lack of confidence in making the “right” choice becomes a liability working against them.
Compounded by the seemingly lack of compassion, caring and willingness of the main stream community to offer a help hand, the homeless person begins to see themselves as an outcast, which further results in a feeling of being completely abandoned by the rest of society. This can ultimately lead to the homeless person losing all hope that they may ever have the opportunity to regain a “normal” life. And, as hope vanishes and is replaced by despair the homeless person simply gives up any attempt to escape homelessness.
The primary rule to healing is “first do them no harm”
But when we refuse to acknowledge the humanity in a person who is homeless, isn’t that what we are doing: harming them? I just think there is way too much generalization being expressed here. Not every homeless person's circumstances are the same, and we can't know what led them there or is keeping them there.
14 November 2007 at 3:44 p.m.
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artichokeheart (Anonymous) says…
What is the use of a house if you haven't got a tolerable planet to put it on?
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.
Henry David Thoreau
14 November 2007 at 3:52 p.m.
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camronsdad (Anonymous) says…
Where has the direction of comments on this story gone??? Why are we having a philosophical debate about the state of homelessness?
The story is about a young man who sees people in need and wants to do all he can to fill that need. If you know anything about psychology, a person has to have some basic needs met before they can accomplish more difficult life choices.
I doubt many of you personally know Robbie. I am fortunate enough to have contact with him daily at Baldwin High School. You are going on about how foolish and naive he is to want to help is fellow man. Shame on you!
What have you done to make your community better today? Did you just fulfill your needs and move on without thought to the needs of others? Before you stand in the place of judgment, look in the mirror and ask yourself if you made a positive change in someone's life.
14 November 2007 at 4 p.m.
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artichokeheart (Anonymous) says…
Because it is a philosophical issue. Sadly grown adults cannot see with the vision the young man in this article. Life for whatever reason has hardened their hearts to the point they cannot see beyond themselves. “When the student is ready the Teacher will appear”
14 November 2007 at 4:09 p.m.
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Paul R. Getto (Paul R. Getto) says…
Stay away from me choke - you creep me out
14 November 2007 at 5:14 p.m.
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pcjones (Anonymous) says…
Wheres the video link. Get it right!
14 November 2007 at 9:31 p.m.
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igby (Anonymous) says…
Basically there are two basic types of problemed people, drug and liquor people and mentally inpaired people. The mentally impaired ones really need the help. However, it does not matter how much you help the addicted ones. Unless they get treatment or want to stay clean their always going to be homeless because thats the thrill of hanging out and getting high or durnk with fellow types who flock togeather. Panhandling and crime is their lifestyle, peddling hook ups for the dealers and helping people find drugs.
14 November 2007 at 9:41 p.m.
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igby (Anonymous) says…
I was walking downtown tonight and when to the park and in several places there were blankets strone about the ground under trees and up against the citys out buildings. I was thinking that these were good blankets but were left behind because they were dirty and needed to be laundered.
Does the drop center or salvation offer any laundry services for these people to get their blankets laundered daily? mabe they should start because I'm sure if these people could check in their blankets in the moring and pick them up at dusk they would not be lying all over the parks like they are.
14 November 2007 at 10:28 p.m.
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artichokeheart (Anonymous) says…
pcjones (Anonymous) says…
Wheres the video link. Get it right!
You mean this link:
http://www2.ljworld.com/videos/2007/nov/…
15 November 2007 at 7:02 a.m.
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Oracle_of_Rhode (Anonymous) says…
About 500,000 homeless are U.S. veterans. Here's a fox news link about that…
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,1041…
Why are b3 and kukeeper and lexi and the rest trashing our veterans as being “lazy?” That makes me sick!
Other homeless have issues with addiction and mental illness — and our government has cut services available to those people, like they have cut services to the veterans.
15 November 2007 at 7:43 a.m.
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kufanattic (Anonymous) says…
Seems to me that many of you have forgotten what the article was about to begin with. No one really cares what b3 says, or does. The real deal is that someone took the time to help someone else. Maybe we should all try to be an example instead of an obstical.