LBBM (Little Brown Bag Mission)

This post is so overdue, but it's so neat that I have to post it anyway. Plus, I had a really fun time editing the pictures for the church slideshow, and I must share some of the touching moments of the day.

November

A PB&J, an apple, a bottle of water, and packaged snacks went in each bag, along with a toothbrush & toothpaste, wet wipes, socks, gloves, hats, underwear, scarves, a home baked cookie or two and a Bible. God bless the ladies who made 220 PB&J sandwiches. I can't really stand to make one...so messy. See everyone has a calling...:)

Youth who didn't prepare bags got busy preparing 220 encouraging, handwritten notes to include in each bag.

Coats were collected and handed out and picked through right from the bed of the truck. People were asking for shoes though, maybe next year, we'll round up some mens shoes. One lady had on socks with flip-flops and it was COLD.

Braums donated the brown bags for the stuff...we stuffed them with the donated stuff and off we went downtown. There are a lot of homeless people around the bridge areas down there, where the interstates cross over, as well as a couple of half-way houses for citizens being reintroduced into the workforce, and a soup kitchen.

Did I say that this was an Youth Inspired Mission Project? Emily, (not pictured) thought this up all by herself last year, (she's 16) and last year, they handed out a small amount of bags compared to this years 220. Emily rocks, and her mom's pretty cool too cause she's my friend. :)

One guy/man went with each of the three groups of girls, so we were safe. There was only one time that I didn't feel safe, and it passed quickly.

You can't see it in the picture, but this bicycle had no back tire. It was just a rim.

I got lucky enough to be photographer of this fabulous activity for the afternoon. Our church has a photography team, and one person comes to each activity to take pics so that they can be posted on the church website etc... The team person there for the day, took pictures of all the bagging and sorting but didn't know it continued later downtown. She saw me snapping pictures (big surprise) and she asked me if I could take over for her because she couldn't go. I had a lot of fun doing it and editing them, but it was difficult to take the pictures. Most of the shots are from the side or behind. I just felt strange letting them see me taking their picture in such a desperate situation.

I was way far away when I took this...out the window of my car leaving actually. This fellow had a bag and was walking away toward the shelter, when he spotted another bag behind this concrete divider. Someone had taken out the food and left the Bible. This fellow took out the Bible, and  looked up at me, just as i snapped the picture. I wonder who he had in mind to give it to?

This guys prayer request was simple "everything". He was in tears when we were done.

This family was homeless. They had the back of the truck full of what they owned and slept in their vehicle I'm sure. Sometimes we, me included, are guilty of thinking that if people have a car, then they could get a job and a place to live, but seeing it first hand made me a lot less critical.

I enjoyed so much doing it with Hannah. We had much to talk about after that morning and much to be grateful for. I might add that it's a lot different to actually participate in helping the needy, than to just write the check or donate the food. Everyone has a part to play and if you ever ever get the chance to serve the needy and interact with them, I encourage you to do it. Then, you too will drive around with a brown bag in your back floorboard to hand out to homeless people instead of cash. :)