There are a couple of young ladies out there 10 and 12 that hatched a plan to collect unwanted used blankets and distribute them to the homeless out in the field with the help of their Mom. For several years, they have done this through the winter.

Our economy has changed and people are out there homeless this year that have never been homeless before. This includes families with children. The lucky ones live in their cars. The savvy ones have the skills to create a campsite in the woods. Others simply huddle behind buildings or at bus stops to get out of the wind.

These young ladies don't just set up somewhere waiting for the needy (or the cheap wanting a bargain) to come to them. These kids go out into the field, to the camps, to the places where there is absolutely no doubt the homeless live. They drive out behind businesses, follow the trails to the camps etc. and make contact with Lee County's growing homeless population.

Prior to setting out they make a basket full of Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches and distribute those too.
These kids can't do it without you.

There are people in this county that wonder what happened, those that watch what happens, and those that make it happen. Any time you have a child that hatches up a plan to help our community and puts that plan into action, you are looking at tomorrows leaders.

You are an email (a few key strokes) away from wrapping a homeless person in a warm blanket. Tonight another cold front rolls in. Tonight someone will be out there just chilled to the bone. Tonight a mother or a grandmother will wrap themselves around their child or grandchild to keep that baby warm. That blanket that is folded in the closet that you just don't use anymore, maybe because the color is wrong, the size is off, the color has faded etc would be precious to someone that has none at all.

The Associated Press recently did an article on these kids and followed them into the field. It was hoped that they would be barraged with blankets. It didn't happen. Local news is where it would have helped them the most. Their supply of blankets is low. The need here in Lee County is high.

Be one of the ones that make it happen. You are an email away from wrapping someone cold in warmth. Please support "Blankets for the homeless" Donate that blanket you don't use. Got a sealed jar of PB & J? They could use that too. Please drop that email. Don't just think about it, do it. That old blanket is someones blessing!

Ask your neighbors, your women's group, post a card on the bulletin board at your community center, post something at work. Be one of the ones that make it happen. Please support these kids efforts.

I saw their magic happen......

I had the wonderful opportunity to go with them Saturday. We hiked through brier and bramble to some of the campsites in N Ft Myers. I climbed through cabbage palms finally reaching a clearing. We met a veteran who led us to two other veterans. Each had his own site within "hollering distance" so they could help each other out if either of the three had a problem. After all these years, they still watch each others backs. One gentleman is an avid reader and had his eyes glued to a book. "This is what I love to do. I'm not a drinker and I don't do no drugs. I'm a carpenter by trade, there's just no work. Day labor turns you away. My addiction is books. Us three are military so we got pretty good camps and know what to do. There are others that need help more than us.

We found more campsites in the woods down the road. The girls dropped some warm blankets in a couple tents. The "residents" weren't home. Then we came to another clearing where a woman was. She had a mattress on the ground. They asked if she had a tent. She replied no, I wish. The others have tents but I don't have one. It was cold last night. The girls told her they would be right back and off to Walmart we went. They picked up a two person tent for 20.00 and headed right back where the woman waited. She looked in disbelief that someone would go buy her a tent. They gave her a heavy comforter and a few peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The woman cried. No one had ever done something so nice like this before. For 20.00, this one now had a home.
There's just so many out there that it seems you just can't make a difference.
Well, It sure made a difference to that one.

Still, more are out there. As I write this.....someone is out there in the cold tonight....with nothing.....This is what "nowhere to turn" looks like. If you think you're having it rough this year, walk a mile in these peoples shoes.
You can change that with that old faded comforter or blanket in the closet.

Two little girls with hearts bigger than themselves make it happen with the help of Mom and a borrowed mini bus loaded with blankets and PB&J sandwiches.

Contributions of blankets for the girls' efforts can be sent to 732 Fargo Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33913. They can be reached at charliesammie732@comcast.net.
If you can't get the blankets to there, we'll pick them up. If you have a tent you don't use anymore that still has the poles or want to donate a two person tent (20.00) from the store. It would put a roof over someones head and get them out of the rain.

Hope to hear from you......