Made for This

It's not possible, is it?  

1.6 million kids in America are homeless.

16 – 18 million families live at or below the poverty line.

It can't be possible.  Not here.  But it is and it is growing.

I've volunteered in homeless shelters.  And what I remember most are the faces, they  are still carved across my heart.  

We can say it's not right, and then look away.  We don't mean to look away, but life is so complicated, so hard, there are too many undone things in life, there's too much pain.

I believe every person can do something to help.  And the first thing to do is talk about it.  Seriously.  

Talk about the statistics because people don't know. 

The next step is figure out something you can do, write a check — small or large — collect toys, volunteer, something.  

Ask your kids — what can we do?  You might be surprised at their answers.  

Ask your school, a local business, a local organization, a church.  

What can we do?

And then picture a child's face, maybe your child, and now picture them homeless, living in a car, living on the street.

Imagine the fear and the exhaustion.

Imagine living without basic needs. 

Imagine the hole in their lives and how it could be mended.

Imagine being a parent who can't shelter your children.

We think sometimes that we don't have the means, but we do.  We're here to help people who are hurting.  

Just begin.  Then let it build.  Call your elected officials and let them know — this has to change.

I wrote my latest novel, Almost Home, to show the story of one amazing, resilient girl who loses it all and keeps going.  There were people who helped her, some more than others, but the ones who helped a little strengthened the chain that kept her going.

It's not possible, is it?

1.6 million kids in America are homeless.

16 – 18 million families live at or below the poverty line.

It is, and ordinary people are a big part of the solution.  

We've been made for this.