I asked Cheryl, a childhood friend, if she would help me distribute sleeping bags to the homeless. She jumped at the idea. We went to Wal-Mart and purchased just 14 sleeping bags and drove straight to an area of Tampa, FL that is heavily populated with homeless people. It was one of the best experiences of my life!

As we drove around the 3 blocks surrounding Salvation Army on Florida Avenue, we grew more apprehensive. We locked our doors, took off any jewelry, and cracked our windows. We saw a homeless person sitting on the sidewalk and Cheryl asked him if he would like a sleeping bag (it was supposed to drop to the 30s that night). He ran to the car and thanked us with tears in his eyes. Then he turned around to face the empty wooded area behind him and yelled, "sleeping bags!"  Homeless people came out of the woods...male, female, old and young. Eight sleeping bags were gone in 1 minute.  They were all so grateful and kind!   The fear I had going in evaporated and was replaced with an overwhelming sense of love.

Then we drove around the block and there were more homeless people.  Cheryl cracked her window and said to the old man sitting on the sidewalk with his bag of belongings next to him, "Would you like a sleeping bag?"  He got up slowly and made his way to the car.  As he took the sleeping bag he said the most sincere thank you I've ever heard.  He walked around the corner and must have told other homeless because within minutes many came running...we were out of bags in seconds and apologized for not having more.   
                                                                                                           

Cheryl and I left the area. When we got several blocks away, we both started to cry...a mixture of sadness and happiness. Overwhelmed by the feeling of joy from seeing how grateful these people are for something many of us may take for granted and sad to know we have so many homeless in America. 

Before I knew it winter of 2007 had arrived. As the cold weather reports started to roll in, I couldn't stop thinking of our 2006 experience.  On November 7, I sent out an email to business associates, friends and family and they passed the email onto their circle and so on....in 38 days, we collected over 400 bags.  On December 16, 2007 we launched our first official HelpKeepWarm.org distribution. (Read about the launch.)

Homelessness is a topic close to my heart. Many of these people have life altering diseases including mental illness or the disease of alcoholism which are both illnesses that I'm very familiar with. In addition to illnesses, there are many other reasons people become homeless.

Fast forwarding, HelpKeepWarm.org is gearing up for the 2009 Third Annual Sleeping Bag Distribution. You can read about each distribution under the tab Distributions.. 

Mark is a guiding angel for the homeless on these cold nights and you are his wings.

 Thank you!