Sunday August 4th was the 5th BWB Detroit Free Store of the year and Ms Shannon who has been doing an amazing job of cutting hair and doing about 17 per event had a helper this day.
Here is what she wrote about it. ..and the images to follow will melt your heart.
💚💙💙💙💚💙💙💙💚💙💙💙💚 Bobby Jo our newest member to join our can… she is a FREAKING ROCKSTAR HAIR CUTTER!!
She is so absolutely thrilled she was finally able to make one of our events. Sunday she received a thank you card from one of the members of Mariners Inn( the gentleman with the mohawk she cut) it was a homemade card. You could tell he drew the picture and card with colored pencils. The tears she had opening and reading it, said it all.
I meet Gail through facebook when she hit me up to get some backpacks…She showed up at our storage unit on Sunday Dec 23 and took 52 supply filled backpacks and got them on the streets with the dedicated group of volunteers she has through Motor City Mitten Mission
Here is her post about that day:
She has a video on her post that is really powerful ..you have to go to her post to see it.
Gail Marlow tagged you and 94 others in a post: feeling blessed.Gail wrote: “I wanted to wait until after Christmas to post about how incredibly difficult this past week was with the loss of two souls entirely too young to be taken from us. 13 year old Torrin Breneman who passed away from cancer and 26 year old Kody Addison who passed away from addiction. I spent most of this week on the streets of metro Detroit passing out much needed “stuff” to some of our homeless living in the elements with not much to their name. we generally go out twice a week but this past week we were out every day…I guess this was my way of coping and making myself feel better…and honestly, it was bittersweet…we were able to help a lot of people. While seeing many of our regulars, I also made some new friends and shared many hugs with these strangers that were so appreciative of our efforts. With that said, I reflected on what our world has become, what our society values, how there is such a monumental difference in living only a matter of a few minutes away from neighbors…and how an illness can change and devastate so many people so unexpectedly. And as I was driving around downtown today I thought about how easy so many of the homeless are hidden or simply disregarded and walked by as if they don’t matter…we have to do a better job of watching out for one another…a better job of taking care of our environment and world…maybe not always put ourselves first…maybe allow ourselves to be inconvenienced once in a while or leave our comfort zone. Maybe think about the greater good for humanity??? I believe in hard work and putting your dues in…but sometimes people just need a hand up…as I’ve said many times, any of us are only a step away from being homeless regardless how stable you think you currently are. “Things” do happen. So I made this short video of a song by one of my favorite bands, Queen called “Is This The World We Created”! It’s not a happy or uplifting video…but rather reality on the current state of our communities. I hope this video will inspire you to want to make the world a better place…to pay it forward and spread a little love. I personally dedicated my efforts and outreach this week to Torrin and Kody…they both were always trying to do for others even when they couldn’t do for themselves! ️ The Motor City Mitten Mission distributed our plarn mats and pillows (we’re super low on them folks), meals prepared by Vicki Klobuchar-Boudro who does them In Loving Memory of Rachel Frevik-her daughter (Thanks, Panera Bread, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Cindy Trotta, Penny Webster, Shirley G. Marlow, Carrie Breneman Chmura, Jason Breneman, Robert A Nahra (Chef Bobby) and Encore Catering & Banquet Center for providing the food that went out this week), and fully stocked survival backpacks put together by so many of our wonderful volunteers with donations provided by so many of you as well as a ton provided by my new friend Danielle Doxie Kaltz and her crew. ️ Thanks for helping us help others! Be inspired! ️️ #motorcitymittenmission #mcmm #rosecitymission #plarnfarm #torrinstrong #gonebutnotforgottenkody #hugsfromthehomeless #helpushelpothers #beinspired”
This event is a Xmas pub crawl to benefit Burners Without Borders. Admission is free* and there will be drink specials at the bars. Costumes ARE required — this is NOT an ugly sweater event — so be creative! Santas, elves, reindeer, Xmas tree, presents, menorah, snowman, dreidel, Krampus…
They posted an Official pub crawl!!
8-9 Sneakers (drink specials for santas) 9-10 Bobcat Bonnie’s 10-11 Orchid (free cover for Santas and $2 you call it drinks) 11-12 J’s Penalty Box (Drink specials for Santa’s! $2 Molson Pints, $4 Two Hearted Pints, $4 Fireball Shots) 12-1 Ferndale Elks ( drink specials for Santas) 1-2 Soho
While the event is free they asked for a suggested donation of $5-10 to be donated towards the Burners Without Borders nonprofit. This donation goes to help feed and clothe the homeless during the holiday season.
NOT only does Joe Van Bael and the crew at the Tangent Gallery (Jimbo and Wizard) let and help us host the event there.. this year they wrote a post about our event on their brand new website…thanks
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the event.. to all the people who donated pre-event..to all the folks who took packs to get out on the streets!
Thank you to Shinola for showing up again and helping.. this is the 4th year of their contributions and Ms Tiffany organizing it and Mr Chris collected over $500 for additional supplies for the event!! We are humbled.
Thank you to Tall Tony for driving all over the tri-county area to get p38 can openers and missing most of the event! He picked up water and other supplies too!
Thanks to Krampus the night before and alllll the canned food that was collected that went directly into the packs.
Thanks to the secret donor who helps us out each year at the event so we have cash for all the emergencies that come up!
Thank you to my buddy from highschool who got pizza for the crew.
Thank to Zak Winchester for filming …and Erika Brown too with his goat.
There are just soo many people to thank and all the things every person does makes such a difference. from McDonalds gift cards to writing notes to put in each bag!!
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE..no matter who you touch this project your efforts make all the difference.
KRAMPUS NIGHT in Detroit served up a twisted holiday delight this to not disappoint. The event raised $230 and about 70 or so $5.00 McDonalds gift cards.. BIG thanks to everyone oh and all the canned food donations. That table below was overflowing by the end of the night.. and we put all the donations directly into the backpacks the next day during our annual Backpacking event!!
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR ALL THE SUPPORT.. esp DVS and Dekilah and everyone at KRAMPUS NIGHT http://www.krampusnightdetroit.com
The auction art work was donated by a wide variety of artists with great dark style. There were 11 pieces donated this year and we are thankful to everyone for contributing. A list of the artists included : CreepynCuteShop (MI), David Feingold (MI), Dedd Fredd (MI), Dusten Sonnon Artist (GA), Jeeten patel (India), Lauren E Brumbach (MI), Mandiblez (MI), Marina Schreckling (Germany), Ratravarman (MD), Roberto Patiño Jr (MI) and Victoria General (Canada)
The auction is hosted by Burners without Borders Detroit and 100% of the auction funds go to them to help create survive backpacks of food and supplies for those in need on our cold winter streets. Donate to win art and be the change you wish to see in Detroit!
Here is what he shared on his post about what we do.. which nailed it but please watch the video as it is about so much more!!
BWB Detroit demonstrates a genuine Me to We project which started in 2008. We have been known for the past 11 winters for creating supply filled backpacks that we give to the homeless. We do an annual backpacking event where we set it up supplies assembly style..which is very Detroit. And a few hundred volunteers fill 400 to 500 a year and we get them on the streets November through April. Six years ago we started a Community Potluck dinner to break bread after we pack so we can create connections and friendships. Three years ago we started a Free Store where we set up clothes and hair cuts for the homeless May through October.
Our projects are simple, repeatable and have many points of access from writing notes to the homeless, fundraising, collecting items. cutting hair, donating and getting supplies to those in need.
Join us as we Create random acts of kindness & service to Detroit Homeless. We can not do what we do without generous people like you!
After the annual backpacking event we hit the streets looking for people who do not go to shelters and offer then a supply-filled backpack. The backpacks are stuffed with socks, gloves, a hat, scarves, emergency blankets, rain poncho, more socks, juice, hand warmers, water, a soft cereal bar, four-to-five canned goods from various food groups, a can opener, a toiletry pack that includes tissue, wet-wipes, toothpaste, a toothbrush and lip balm..and more if items are donated!
Our Free Store events are where we give out clothes and haircuts during the months we do not give out backpacks..so May to October. We accept clothing for this but would rather you join us for an event to get in touch with the community and the population we help to serve.
To make a tax deductible donation please visit the page of our Fiscal Sponsor, BURN. http://boldurban.org/donate/ ..please indicated BWB DETROIT!
More about BURN- Mission Statement The Bold Urban Renaissance Network (“BURN”) is a dynamic nonprofit organization which fosters community arts through grass-roots projects and civic collaborations. We seek to create, display, and support interactive arts and civic participation that inspires action and connects people by moving them from passive spectators to creative participants. We believe this inspires positive creative change in the participants and in the wider community.
During Krampus Night, we will be auctioning off 11 fine art pieces generously donated by various international artists of the 2018 DAMNEDExhibition and vendors of the Naughty List Bazaar. These kramptastic artists include:
The auction is hosted by Burners without Borders Detroit and 100% of the auction funds go to them to help create survive backpacks of food and supplies for those in need on our cold winter streets. Donate to win art and be the change you wish to see in Detroit!
For more information on KRAMPUS and additional entertainment.
