feelingIT

PLEASE MEET SABINA: 

We all feel it. Change has already come to our lives because of Covid-19. The ripples are extending relentlessly. One after another we hear of a new struggle, surprised by it at first and then realizing sadly, duh, of course that would happen, how could it not have.

This morning I felt it again when visiting Real Change Vendor Sabina Lopez, who hasn't sold a paper in weeks. She said, "You can't sell papers to people who aren't there."

My heart dropped. Another moment of realizing, "Duh, of course". I had not even thought about all those beautiful vendors and the horrible impact this was going to bring.

Yesterday Real Change suspended printing the paper. They've gone to on-line publication only, until further notice. They are focused on how to best give support to those in the community.

For those of us that can continue with some income, the worries are about health and happiness. For those that were already on the poverty line, or below it, their worries include food, shelter, survival.

You can help support Real Change Vendors right now by donating to their "Real Change Vendor Relief Fund."

https://51573.thankyou4caring.org/venmo-your-vendor-?fbclid=IwAR0jecrz6yve33rK4BzKMQBPay8ybpbxvdI3scmCbFsysPt-j8jNboAYPFU

This is Sabina. She's been a RC Vendor for about 7 years. When we first met she was living outside, struggling deeply, being ruled by her drinking. Today she lives in Chief Seattle Club's Eagle Village, has been sober for about 2 years, and is engaged to Ray, wowWOW!!

If you want to help Sabina, and I so hopeHOPE you do, please go to: Venmo, then Real Change, then Sabina Lopez, and then enter her badge #11690 and donate.

ALSO, in the link above you can find your favorite RC Vendor and provide support for them through this very difficult time. Even a little matters a great deal. A heartfelt THANK YOU!

Tim Harris, who is the Real Change Founding Director, and a personal heroANDmentor of mine, shared: "It's hard. Vendors really miss both the income and the community. Our priority is to keep everyone safe and supported while we publish the paper each week at realchangenews.org. We're very inspired by the amazing community support we've seen the past few weeks, and will be back on the street as soon as possible."

Seattle Neighborhoods | Rex

A QUIET THOUGHT - If you're moved by the goodness of this community, please visit http://www.facinghomelessness.org/ and click on the 'donate' button and consider a "monthly recurring" donation of just $5 in support of the work. THANK YOU!
#Kindness #JustSayHello #FacingHomelessness RealChange VendorProgram Crosscut KING 5 Chief Seattle Club Colleen Echohawk-Hayashi

realCHANGE

PLEASE MEET LISA:

"Ever since my dad died at the end of May I've been behind on bills. I thought I was finally catching up, but again not. I've also been cut out of social security and food stamps. When I appealed for food stamps they were going to give me $16 for a whole month. Living in Seattle that goes really quick."

As Lisa shares my heart sinks. I've known her for years, known how hard she tries, known the courage she brings daily to her journey. A past Real Change Vendor of the Year, Lisa's six year anniversary of selling the paper is coming up on November 8th. It's been a way for her to survive AND create community. She shows up at 4th & Union, rain or shine for her customers, greeting everyone with a smile of kindness.

Lisa goes on, saying, "This point in my life I still like to learn new things. I found out my family members have a long line of electricians but there hasn’t been a female. I am waiting to hear back on an apprenticeship program to become one!"

On October 23rd Lisa turns 33 years old. She's $250 behind on her rent, hoping we can surprise her by paying off that burden, I know it would relieve so much stress for her.

UPDATE: The Paypal link has been pulled in that our goal of raising $250 has been reached with $2,184.38 donated, wowWOW!! I know this will allow Lisa to focus on her dream of becoming an electrician! She is going to be blown away by the kindness and support! No funds, as in cash, go directly to Lisa. All funds will be paid directly to her landlord. Also, as is always the case, no funds whatsoever go to Facing Homelessness. So happy for you Lisa Sawyer, this community clearly loveLOVES you!!!

You are BEAUTIFUL Lisa through and through, sending a community size LOVE to you and to all your co-workers at Real Change!!!

South Park neighborhood | Rex

A QUIET THOUGHT - If you're moved by the goodness of this community, please visit http://www.facinghomelessness.org/ and click on the 'donate' button and consider a "monthly recurring" donation of just $5 in support of the work. THANK YOU!
#JustSayHello #Kindness #FacingHomelessness Real Change News RealChange VendorProgram #RealChangeNews

aboutKINDNESS

There is no reason for us to be spectators in the face of homelessness when we hold the most important tool for healing, and that is loving.

We can begin by first seeing the homelessness crisis as a symptom of a larger crisis ­­— a community crisis. This is an important distinction. When we say “homelessness crisis,” we look at those people over there as the “other,” as something needing to be “fixed. When we say “community crisis,” we include ourselves. This fundamentally changes our relationship to the issue. It now involves us.

As we begin to come closer to those in need, beautiful new pathways naturally open. Solutions we could not see before, hidden behind our barriers, suddenly become obvious and achievable. When we “Just Say Hello,” we become less overwhelmed by the larger issue and more understanding, more genuinely loving, of the individual. In this moment of seeing the person, we join the solution for ending homelessness.

For more thoughts on this, please read the Opinion Editorial I wrote for this week's Real Change newspaper.

https://www.realchangenews.org/2019/10/02/homelessness-community-crisis-involves-all-us?fbclid=IwAR3CqY_d0CR5n8pVUaAdJLLOa1e1mNEX_tkHyW4nTmdyyg_6iv7dHJEVMAQ#.XZYC-ItmUvA.facebook

We must remove the barriers around homelessness. Not those that the homeless experience in their struggles, but rather our own. When we say “she is lazy” or “he is choosing to be homeless” or any number of other negative stereotypes without getting to know that person, we are hearing our own barriers. Looking there first is the hard work of ending homelessness. Perhaps this is why it has been so difficult to accomplish. But we can change that.

Like Blair Jordan has in getting to know Michael and his best friend dog Daisy or an uncountable number of other regular ordinary people providing simple beautiful acts of kindness to those in need.

Sure there will be those that talk about enabling, or that folks need to pull themselves up by their own boot-straps, or that laws are being broken, and on and on. Fine, let's have those conversations, but regardless of the view or position taken on this issue, there is never a reason to withhold kindness. Never.

A community size LOVE to all those that silently and beautifully provide service to those that are struggling. Thank you.

Seattle neighborhoods | Rex

A QUIET THOUGHT - If you're moved by the goodness of this community, please visit http://www.facinghomelessness.org/ and click on the 'donate' button and consider a "monthly recurring" donation of just $5 in support of the work. THANK YOU!
#RealChangeNewspaper RealChange VendorProgram Real Change News #JustSayHello #Kindness #FacingHomelessness