Peace'burgh: Love the Homeless

photo credit.

Last week, my brother and I volunteered with a few other members of our church, Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community, to make, pack up and deliver about 30 lunches to homeless people around Pittsburgh. First thing's first, I am not writing this post to gain attention about "doing a good deed" or get a pat on the back through comments below. I'm writing this to make you aware of a common misconception that many people have about this overwhelmingly large part of our population.

We went to about five local spots where some people are known to be living, near various neighborhoods. Places that you probably wouldn't even think to look or if you were near, which if you frequent Pittsburgh, you've probably been near, and never noticed. I know that a lot of people often see homeless people out and about asking for money and only think that they want it for drugs or alcohol, which for some, is true. But some genuinely need your help. I think on Saturday, we saw both sides.

Either way, they are all people who needed a bottle of water and a sandwich, along with some other goodies, and a conversation. I don't really know what I'm trying to say. Besides maybe, give some of those people you see on the street something more than a smug look or abrupt "no" before leaving them in the dust. As a student, I got used to carrying around extra fruit and random snacks because I often don't have chance to run home for a meal, and quite a few times those snacks went to people on the street who asked for money for food. So there are easy little ways you can help. You can go to Hot Metal to volunteer, every Saturday at noon, walk in Tunch & Wolf's Walk for the Homeless, help out at a homeless shelter or you could purposefully carry around fruit. Above all, just know that they aren't all the kind of people you think they might be. Just like anyone else you might meet. The best you can do is just love them.

FUNDS: Let's talk about money!

While I type this, Bills, Bills, Bills by Destiny's Child is running a loop in my head...coincidence? Last night, I was able to attend a great little event to really kick off Homeless Children's Awareness Week. Granted, I was pretty much hounded into going by Isaac, who was one of the speakers, and Trent, who was the MC, but I am so glad that I was able to go.

Logo for HCEF.

The event, FUNDS: True Stories About Money, was an evening of first-person storytelling and was beyond entertaining. It was held at James Street Gastropub and Speakeasy, which was a perfect venue with a great vibe and wonderful food and drinks. And while I may (okay I do) have a biased opinion, I loved Isaac's story the most but also adored that so many people participated in telling their hilarious, thought provoking and heartwarming stories. From learning about the generosity of a man in Haiti, the feeling of bouncing checks, finding a prostitute's jump-drive, figuring out the best gifts from boys usually aren't expensive...or in that storyteller's case, expected, and of course, Isaac's tales of growing up on a farm, each story connected back in some way to money and how the storyteller related to it at some point in their lives. It was interesting to hear so many different stories especially when all I could think about was how I was spoiled with money and other blessings (like a cleaning lady for our house) growing up and now am figuring out ways to pay for everything myself. Thanks for that reality check!

FUNDS was organized by Homeless Children's Education Fund. Which raises awareness of HCEF's efforts on behalf of youth experiencing homelessness in Allegheny County. Trent gave a lot of statistics that were very shocking to me and he mentioned ways to volunteer to help the cause, which is something I may look in to in the future because, like Trent said last night, it is hard to imagine that so many children face homelessness when we usually think of adults as the only people dealing with this issue. Homelessness in general is a topic that I plan on bringing up in the series of Peace'burgh, so I'm sure you'll be hearing about this event again from me, I thought it was absolutely fabulous and a great way to talk about something that usually people do not like to mention.

There are a couple more events this week coming from the HCEF if you want to check them out! Including an art installation/performance art piece called "Stand Up." This is a volunteer-based event where volunteers will be holding up pictures of actual homeless children in the area over their own faces (like a mask) and stand outside of Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall for a moment of silence to portray the statistics and to act as a symbol for the children in Allegheny County facing homelessness. There will also be food from Franktuary provided afterwards for volunteers, which is reason enough to help out. Also, for those of you steel city runners out there, HCEF is also hosting a 5K Run/Walk at North Park on Saturday. This is a great cause to become involved with and this week is a perfect time to do so!

Peace'burgh: End the Violence

I am sure by now, most if not all of you reading this have heard about the hostage situation that went on pretty much all day last Friday in downtown Pittsburgh. If you have not, the basic rundown is that a young man randomly went into Gateway Center, building three, and decided to hold a manager of one of the offices in that building hostage. These men did not know each other, and the police continue to say that this entire event was random and only happened because the suspect woke up early that morning in a bad mood, wanting to do something bad.

It's been the most recent "talk of the town." But as I mentioned in my post about the Mysteries of Pittsburgh, there are people living in this area that hate it here and the violence is one of the reasons that they will list to you as to why they do not want to be here. Although this incident was the most recent and maybe the biggest that Pittsburgh has seen for awhile, it is not the first and it is probably not the last either. But, in defense of Pittsburgh, it's not the only place where this is going on either.

Taken while walking through Point State Park.

It breaks my heart that the city that I love is tainted by acts of violence, hunger and homelessness. I wish so badly that what Pittsburgh is to me, a place of opportunity and growth, could be that kind of place for everyone who is living here or will eventually live here. Pittsburgh itself has grown so much and has so much inspiring and unique history behind it, that it is hard for me to imagine ever hating it or the people who inhabit it. But again, not everyone here feels that way. So for those of us that do, here is your call to action.

Love. That's all. Just love.

I know that seems like a dumb thing to say at times but there is nothing else for us to do right now. And really what do you want to do? Run in like Gang Busters trying to end violence in the city dressed like the Ninja Turtles? Though that does seem interesting and probably more appealing to most people, all we can really do is show the people and the city itself that it is loved and appreciated. Look for the good in the people you come across here. Look for the good even on the dirty streets! Pittsburgh has it and without us taking advantage of its opportunities and realizing all of the great things the city has to offer, we have missed the whole point of even being here to begin with.

This city has great things in store for each of us, we just need to be open to realizing those things and then maybe in return it will be a safer place in the future. A place that is more accepting and more caring of the people it holds. There are greater things to come to this city, we just have to help them along sometimes.

For those of you who are into it, please pray for Pittsburgh. If that's not your thing, at least send out some good vibes and thoughts about how the city needs more love in it to grow and be a better place for all who visit and all who inhabit it. Because if there is one thing that we can all agree on, regardless of our beliefs, it is that love always makes a difference. Also, I am considering making "Peace'burgh" another little series in this blog, hoping that it is just as important to my readers as "Fashion Forward Fridays" has become. To love Pittsburgh is to love it all, so I hope you all feel the same way about this blog.

And since the song is currently stuck in my head and I am one of those praying types, here are some relevant lyrics from Robin Mark's song, Revival...

"Sure as gold is precious and the honey sweet,

so You love this city and you love these streets.

Every child out playing by its own front door,

every baby laying on the bedroom floor.

Every dreamer dreaming in her dead end job,

every driver driving through the rush hour mob.

I feel it in my spirit, feel it in my bones,

You're gonna send revival, bring 'em all back home.

I can hear that thunder in the distance,

like a train on the edge of the town,

I can feel the brooding of Your Spirit,

saying lay your burdens down.

Lay your burdens down...."