Baltimore Org. Aims To Keep Homeless Warm Through 30-Day Mission
BALTIMORE (WJZ)--As Baltimore begins to brace for the frigid air, one organization is making it their mission to keep the homeless warm this winter.
Led by Chris Campbell and Jose Vilchez, Urban Angels Baltimore is a "pop-up non-profit" with one mission: deliver 1,500 winter kits to Baltimore's homeless in 30 days.
The city has approximately 2,500 to 4,000 homeless people, according to a June Baltimore Sun report.
According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, life-threatening hypothermia can set in between 32–50 degrees.
In Baltimore, a "cold blue" is declared when temperatures, including windchill, are expected to drop below 13 degrees, which prompts shelters to open for the homeless and those vulnerable to frigid temps.
But some say that Baltimore isn't doing enough.
"Baltimore is the only city in America, that I know of, that waits until it's 13 degrees outside to open up emergency shelters," said Campbell.
Chris Campbell--a journalist, who writes weekly stories for Laissez Faire Today—says the 30 day "impact" mission began on October 26 with the intent on raising money to deliver winter packs to the homeless before Thanksgiving. Each pack includes gloves, hats and socks.
The financing started through a crowdfunding campaign, but Chris says he quickly learned that funds would increase quicker by selling "Gratitude Keys" that cost only $7.40.
The keys have become a symbol of this 30-day project, reminding those who contribute how much they are helping the homeless and ultimately how much they have to be grateful for.
"We have so much to be thankful for. We have roofs over our head, we have food to eat...when it's cold we turn up the thermostat, most of us," said Jordan Faye Block, founder of an art gallery in Mt. Vernon.
Jordon says she instantly fell in love with Chris' project and knew that selling keys in her gallery was going to make a difference.
Every time a key was purchased Jordan says Chris would snap a photo and share it on the Urban Angels Baltimore Facebook page as a sign of gratitude.
"I really believed in the mission of the project, I really just wanted to make a larger change," said Jordon.
And so she did just that, selling more than 50 keys out of her gallery alone.
Donating clothes, money and getting others to contribute was something very personal for Tiffani Bryant, who says after going through a troubled relationship involving domestic abuse she found peace working on this project.
"The only thing that seemed to bring me peace was not only church, but also the more I started collecting clothes, giving out pillows to the homeless and helping people who I felt was in a dark place. It just brought some type of peace to me," she said.
But homelessness is quite familiar for Tiffani whose uncle lived on the streets for years in California.
"A lot of times people need help, but don't want to seem weak and they don't want to have pity," she said. "This could be me, this could be my family."
November 24th marks the end of the 30-day mission and Chris is proud to say more than 400 keys were sold through the project.
Roughly 750 winter kits will begin being assembled this week and will soon go out to benefit those living on the streets and even places like St. Vincent DePaul, Health Care for Homeless and House of Ruth.
In addition to the winter kits, organizers say people have been very gracious donating money and clothing items of all sizes to assist in the cause.
And Chris says the journey to helping others in need doesn't end here.
"We want to help people start their own 30-day project," he said.
Chris encourages those interested to visit his website and share ideas. Once an idea is selected, Urban Angels Baltimore will help fulfill someone else's 30-day mission.
To learn more about the Urban Angels Baltimore Project and how you can help CLICK HERE.
