For Anyone In Vegas (I Need Socks)

[_Jersey Girl]

I finally made it to Walmart today and saw exactly no rain umbrellas or ponchos. Will check another Walmart shortly.

Earlier in the thread you mentioned that your org isn't allowed to accept monetary donations. Why? I'm asking because in the case of an item such as umbrellas, it would be so much easier for posters to contribute money to the cause and you could do the shopping locally.

[_Doctor Steuss]

I finally made it to Walmart today and saw exactly no rain umbrellas or ponchos. Will check another Walmart shortly.

Earlier in the thread you mentioned that your org isn't allowed to accept monetary donations. Why? I'm asking because in the case of an item such as umbrellas, it would be so much easier for posters to contribute money to the cause and you could do the shopping locally.

We shied away from monetary gifts since we were grassroots (without accounting, we don't want any impression of impropriety to sneak in). If you feel comfortable though, you can give moolah to me with directions on how you would like it to be spent. The few times I have done it in the past, I just make sure take pictures of what was bought, and provide copies of receipts as well to whoever gave the money.

Also, I just found out the other day that the founder of Serving Hope Las Vegas has converted it to a Benefit Corp. So, a lot of the donations that we (my soon-to-be-wife and I) receive, we will be hanging onto, and distributing ourselves. I very much doubt any donation would ever be sold, but I don’t want to take the chance, and I like people knowing that their donations go directly to the people they intend them to.

[_Doctor Steuss]

I shared this with the individual who gave the umbrellas, but I thought it was worth sharing here too, since it’s a window into the overall impact that this board has had on the lives of the less fortunate in Las Vegas.

This morning on my way to work at about 6:00am, it was raining. Most days, there is a gentleman on the corner of Charleston and Lamb who walks between cars, motioning that he'd like to bum a smoke. I've spoken with him a few times, and there are definitely some mental health issues. He usually rambles a bit, and has referred to me as "FBI man" a few times. When I’ve given him money in the past, he’s insistent on guaranteeing it will be spend on food, since he knows that “we” monitor him, and he doesn’t want to go to jail. I’ve given him bus money before, and directions to the county psych center, but even if he has gone there, it tends to be a revolving door that only provides temporary relief instead of long-term treatment.

Anyways, to the point: I have been keeping the umbrellas that a forum member donated with me in my car. This morning, this same gentleman was at the intersection, but instead of walking through cars, he was hunkered down next to a power box with a piece of what looked like a car bumper over his head. I was able to pull over, and give him one of the umbrellas.

He didn’t say anything. He just looked at me with unbelief and gratitude.

[_Quasimodo]

I shared this with the individual who gave the umbrellas, but I thought it was worth sharing here too, since it’s a window into the overall impact that this board has had on the lives of the less fortunate in Las Vegas.

This morning on my way to work at about 6:00am, it was raining. Most days, there is a gentleman on the corner of Charleston and Lamb who walks between cars, motioning that he'd like to bum a smoke. I've spoken with him a few times, and there are definitely some mental health issues. He usually rambles a bit, and has referred to me as "FBI man" a few times. When I’ve given him money in the past, he’s insistent on guaranteeing it will be spend on food, since he knows that “we” monitor him, and he doesn’t want to go to jail. I’ve given him bus money before, and directions to the county psych center, but even if he has gone there, it tends to be a revolving door that only provides temporary relief instead of long-term treatment.

Anyways, to the point: I have been keeping the umbrellas that a forum member donated with me in my car. This morning, this same gentleman was at the intersection, but instead of walking through cars, he was hunkered down next to a power box with a piece of what looked like a car bumper over his head. I was able to pull over, and give him one of the umbrellas.

He didn’t say anything. He just looked at me with unbelief and gratitude.

Great story, Doctor Steuss! The board wins again, as do you.

How else can we help your friends? You have taken on the hard job of finding the needy and helping them cope. We have the easy job of sending supplies that will help you do that.

Winter is coming, Thanksgiving is coming, Christmas is coming. What do you need?

[_Doctor Steuss]

Great story, Doctor Steuss! The board wins again, as do you.

How else can we help your friends? You have taken on the hard job of finding the needy and helping them cope. We have the easy job of sending supplies that will help you do that.

Winter is coming, Thanksgiving is coming, Christmas is coming. What do you need?

Right now? Blankets.

Monday night, there were already quite a few people asking for them. With the breeze that night, even my furry self was a bit chilled. Temperatures have been dipping into the low-mid 40's.

If anyone would like to donate money, I can get cases of fleece blankets wholesale at $100 for a case of 24 (so about $4.17 each, which is cheaper than I've ever seen them in stores, and is the cheapest I have found online). I have raised $175 so far from friends/family via Facebook.

My wife and I will be handing out most of the blankets in the "tent city" area, to ensure that they are truly going to those who are sleeping outdoors. If we have any extras after that, they will be handed out at Serving Hope's Monday night events. If a miracle happens, and we have extras after that, we will be giving them to the Las Vegas Mission shelter. I will be raising funds to buy blankets until Thanksgiving. I will be collecting blankets until spring.

Also, if we have any knitters, there was a woman who was handing out hand-made scarves, and they went really fast and were very much appreciated by those who received them.