9 News features Homeless Gear. Read the Article & See the Video.
Mission:
The mission of Homeless Gear is a simple one. Collect unwanted Outdoor Gear (packs, sleeping bags, tents, tarps, etc), Outdoor Basic Clothing (coats, rain gear, boots, etc) and Hygiene Products & re-distribute these items to the homeless. We want to make the days more bearable and the nights survivable for homeless men, women, youth, and children as they struggle to regain self sufficiency.
The focus of our Children in Need program is to provide homeless and near homeless children basic clothing, hygiene items, and other essentials. Our goal is to provide these children with basic necessities to ensure that they are protected from the elements, able to meet basic health and hygiene needs, allow them to actively participate in school and simply to help bolster their self esteem and provide as much normalcy in their lives as possible.
Red, Sable (dog), Tammy and Rick receive two packs and a sleeping bag from Homeless Gear.
Why:
A segment of the homeless community can not gain entrance into an overnight shelter because there are no more beds available or they have issues with drug or alcohol use. Even if they do find overnight shelter they have to spend the majority of their day outside in the rain or snow. Imagine what a warm coat, a good pair of boots, a blanket, or sleeping bag could do for someone forced to sleep or spend the day or night in their car or outside exposed to the elements.
A large percentage of the homeless move from one location to another and need a means of transporting and storing their personal belongings. A pack (any size) is perfect to help them organize, store, and transport their personal property. Cardboard boxes, shopping carts, and other similar containers simply don’t meet the needs of someone constantly on the move.
There are organizations already in place to provide the homeless with vital services such as shelter, medical care, food and substance abuse assistance. Clothing is generally available. The central focus for Homeless Gear is collecting and distributing outdoor gear (packs, sleeping bags, etc) and outdoor clothing (coats, rain gear, boots, gloves, etc.) to the homeless.
Are We Making A Difference???
“In the eight years I have been working with the homeless in Fort Collins, I have unfortunately seen members of the homeless community die of exposure each year and numerous others suffer from frost bite that ultimately lead to loss of fingers, toes, feet, and even legs. However, this winter we have seen a significant reduction I those suffering from hypothermia and frostbite. Even more important, we did not lose a single individual to exposure this winter and I believe this is a direct result of programs like Homeless Gear. Homeless Gear enables us to make sure that the people we work with everyday have at least the bare essentials to stay alive. While I have no way of knowing exactly how many lives have been saved by Homeless Gear, I have no doubt that their efforts have spared countless people the suffering of frostbite and potentially death.”
Zachary Penland, B.A.
Program Supervisor
The Murphy Center
