Cross Roads House

So far this week, I hadn't personally entered any of the shelter homes in New Hampshire.  I've only made some calls for availability and to gather information.  I had hoped to visit The Bridge House, the one and only shelter in New Hampshire that accepts pets (A recent document from a vet is needed for the pet to stay.).  Sydney and I were going to seek resources in the Plymouth area, but when I talked to the Director from the The Bridge House, I did not feel welcome.  She was direct, defensive, and assumed I was doing this project for reasons other than for personal interests.  I informed her twice that "This project is a personal project." She informed me that she has no time to look at my blog or write down my Website.  This is not the typical response that I've been receiving since I've started this project.  I asked her if she could at least explain the process for entering the shelter.  She briefly explained the paperwork process starts from the individual's town welfare office.  It seems like a lot of preparation work needs to be done before you can get help at this shelter.  I didn't know people had to plan ahead to stay at this shelter home.  What do you do when you have no place to go when you are in a desperate need for shelter?  Certainly, not Plymouth.  I will try and seek The Bridge House another time.

Cross Roads House

As my day became sidetracked, I had to make more calls and reroute.  I made a call to Portsmouth, NH.  I received a warm welcome to come to the Cross Roads House.  Being so???, Portsmouth we went.  What a Promise Land for those who are struggling.  Cross Roads was a five million dollar project for a new building that is now two years old that holds over 100+ beds!  Two-thirds of the Cross Roads House annual million dollar operating budget is privately funded.

During my tour of the House, I witness a food donation that came from a funeral reception.  A chafing dish with a hot meal complete from salads to desserts.  This donation could serve half of the residents of the House.

I met several individuals staying at this shelter.  Two of them are at the House due to injuries from accidents that lead to them losing their jobs, apartment and/or home, and are now trying to get back on their feet.  One is volunteering until she is well enough to join the job market.

Phase I  women's shelter in the Cross Roads House

Phase II women's shelter in the Cross Roads House

Panhandler Speaks Out

I spoke to a twenty-something year old woman who has been panhandling for three months.  She was bundled up in four layers with a hood covering most of her face.  I spoke with her for 20 minutes to try to understand her means of survival.  Does she have a wish?  She has many.  As for a career... she wishes to be a Corrections Officer someday. While we talked, people generously gave her money.

She holds a piece of cardboard that says "Homeless Any donations will help.  Thank you and God bless."

Interviewing a Panhandler (<seven minutes long)

Panhandling Experience

Let me start by saying, this panhandling experience could not have been shared with you without the help of Karen Rager, my good friend.  Thank you, Karen, for the video, photos, and encouragement in order to complete this experience.



During this experience I received generous donations from total strangers within twenty minutes.  I had one negative response from a driver who was waiting at the light next to me.  No words were said.  None were needed (watch video to find out).  A lot went through my mind as I went through this experience: embarrassment, safety concerns, possibility of the cops showing up, what insults I might receive from strangers,  and are people really generous?


From the very beginning of this project, I have been told many times I don't look homeless.  One response I received,  "I don't look homeless.  My clothes could pass as homeless clothes, but my eyes don't show it...  Homeless people's eyes show their trauma."  I certainly hope people can change there views about homeless.  There are so many people out there who are struggling to keep up there appearances to avoid this stereotyping.  I understand there are some who would rather not shower for a week or more or not make use of a shelter home (by choice).  These are the ones that make more of a negative impact to society, but there are families, single parents, young couples, and individuals who would like to get back on their feet.  If you could not judge by how people look and listen to their story, maybe, just maybe that would be a good start to helping out.  I spent about 20 minutes talking to a young woman who has been panhandling for the last three months.  I will share more later...

Panhandling (my experience panhandling)

Food Pantry Overload

The Community Kitchen in Keene has a generous, well organized establishment.  I had the pleasure to ask questions and take part in the process of receiving from their food pantry.
My thanks goes out to the staff and volunteers at The Community Kitchen in Keene for their time and big hearts in supporting their community.  They serve one thousand  people through the food pantry each month.  They want to be accessible to all residents in the area who are undergoing financial difficulties.  Individuals and families who are on a fixed income, lost a job, are retired, or a student, or homeless are served!

The amount of donations and food options were beyond my expectations.  Dietary needs can be met and generous amounts are handed out.  Remember, this time of year is the when people donate the most.  Look to give during other times of year when the shelves are close to empty.

Check out this video.  The Community Kitchen (<11 minutes long).

Downtown Dinner

This was someone's dinner left on the grounds at Veterans Memorial Park.   

My friend, Kevin met me for dinner at the New Horizons in Manchester.  I guess you could say it was not a “normal date". Talk about creating new memories, this is one we can't forget.

The waiting line for dinner was over 40 people draped down one side of the building. Hours of operation are 4:30-5:30PM for dinner.  When the doors opened at 4:30PM, people were allowed in groups to control the serving area and sitting capacity.   By the time we were able to enter the building around 5PM the line had grown by an additional 20 people behind us waiting to eat.  When we entered we were asked our name before seating ourselves to an open table. The volunteer staff brought the meal to us (No cafeteria style serving line here). When my plate arrived, I checked for what I could "safely" eat (no sugar).  My plate consisted of a dinner roll with butter, a cup of chowder, a couple slices of hot roast beef with mushroom gravy and corn for the vegetable. I had a chocolate brownie bar for dessert. I ate what I could and offered the remaining food to the others at our table (There is no waste when someone is truly hungry).  

As we were leaving, Kevin donated money for our dinner and also gave the shelter supervisor two generous bags of kids clothing.  The bags of clothes were simply dropped in a large bin with other clothing. The giving and receiving "good feelings" felt blocked. This wasn't what we were expecting.  We were hoping to give it to the kids that were there being served dinner in the shelter. I was told that donated clothes are offered to those in need at another time during the food pantry hours.   

New Horizons' volunteers were busy with people coming and going but we were able to have a brief conversation with the shelter supervisor.  She noted that the number of people served evening meals has doubled. In the month of December they have broken their record serving 300 people in the evening.  Their average number is usually 150 people.  I asked her, "Do you have one wish?"  She replied, "Oh yes, we actually have a wish list!" and she handed me a copy of the list.  

Kevin and I left the shelter and proceeded toward where I parked.  It was dark outside and groups of people were congregated outside the New Horizons area.  I turned to Kevin, thanking him for coming out for dinner.  I realized he met me for dinner, not for the meal, but to make sure I made it safely back to my truck.  Thanks Kevin for your safe escort during my first "homeless" meal.

Meet "Mom and Pop"

I went into Veteran's Park off Elm Street in Manchester late morning and Sydney was the "ice breaker".  I heard a woman ask me, "Is your dog an Australian Shepherd?  As Sydney pulls me with the leash to go say hello to a new friend, I said, "Yes, she is."  Immediately, this woman smiled and stretched her arm out to greet Sydney.  This woman was sitting on a park bench along side her husband.  I have been told to call them, "Mom and Pop".  My dog, Sydney, was great comfort to them which allowed me to introduce myself and ask them questions about "living on the streets".  Another man, Richard, was there and all three of them live under the bridge in Manchester.  One of the questions I asked:  "Have you seen an increase in Homelessness in Manchester?"  They quickly responded with "Yes".  They have seen it at least triple in number since 2007.  Their concerns mainly with the increasing number of children and teenagers being homeless.  During our conversation, a vehicle pulled off Elm Street and stopped in front of us.  Richard went over to the car and was handed a plate of cookies wrapped in Christmas decorated Reynolds wrap.  Sydney sniffed the package and "Mom" offered me a cookie.  I asked:  "Does this happen often?"  They all answered with a smile, "yes".  Richard said, "The community here a very generous".  We receive things year round without even asking.

I'm truly grateful to be able to hear homeless people's stories and witness the little things people do for those in need.

Don't go Homeless on a Holiday

Wow, I didn't realize how difficult it would be to find breakfast this morning.  Manchester's shelter home, New Horizons, only serves breakfast to their overnight clients (at 5:30AM).  I called around to local food pantries, transitional shelters, and soup kitchens for places to find a morning meal and all I got was an answering machine or "the one I need to talk isn't in today due to the holiday".  If I can't get something to eat through community resources, what do I do next?  OK, there's dumpster diving, but why not panhandling? To avoid the possibility of being arrested and having to request bail money from all my followers, I figured I better inform the Manchester Police Department.  I went to the department and talked to the receptionist and she said "it shouldn't be a problem, just give us documentation about your project, and let us know when and where you plan on doing it."  So, when I went back to give her my information about the project, I was greeted by the lieutenant on duty to inform me they would not allow me to panhandle legally.  The police officer informed me it's becoming a real problem.  Panhandlers are being arrested.  It's "disrupting the flow of traffic" when they are at cross roads, stop lights, and stepping into roadways asking for money.  MPD finds this an increasing problem and has been taking police officers away from other important issue in the city.  Did you know panhandlers make about $200 dollars a day off South Willow Street in Manchester?  That's less than eight hours of begging and not having to pay the IRS.  Just don't get arrested.

Saturday with Rise Again Outreach

Christmas time, all the time, with Rise Again Outreach. I witnessed over 40 people giving and receiving on the morning of Dec. 24th.  I met up with Rise Again Outreach in Concord, NH at 9AM to take part in their Saturday bus route for the homeless in the Superior Court parking lot.

This faith-based organization gathers clothing, toiletries, and food donated from local businesses and individuals for the less fortunate. Rise Again Outreach has purchased full size school buses (one for Manchester and two for the Concord area) to accommodate the growing homeless population in order to transport supplies. The school buses’ seats are taken out and shelves are put in place for transporting food, toiletries, and clothing.

With the temperature in the 20’s, people gathered around for a morning prayer then sang Christmas Carols as people gave thanks to one another and gifts were given to the less fortunate. An old jacket becomes a new one. Food, water, and new socks were just a few of the many supplies given to the homeless.

Project Update

Two initial ideas for this project didn’t make it off the table.

1. I wanted to incorporate couponing into this project, but unfortunately I didn’t find food manufacturers interested in supporting the idea of “eating healthy” on a low budget. With the assistance of Extreme Coupon Professors, my request for specific food manufacturers to support “healthy eating” on a low budget never came through and I didn’t even get one coupon. Well, has my theory proven true? Is there minimal support on preventive care and healthy eating options from food manufacturers? Is it true... greed vs. healthy feed? More profit in the pockets of food manufactures without the concerns for a healthier society? Something to think about… The project had to change.

2. I stated I would “live in the world of the homeless”. Authorities have advised me not to live in the world of the homeless for safety reasons. Also, why take up a room in a shelter home when there is someone who is in real hardship? The shelters are challenged enough trying to support those who walk through for the night. Shelter homes throughout NH will have to be visited without the overnight experience. I will be visiting shelter homes during the day, gathering information, and documenting the experience.

What I hope to seek from this personal project:

As I stated earlier, "Within this trip, I will find out what shelter homes and food pantries have on their shelves after the holidays.” What types of foods are being served? Are dietary needs being met? I’ll be traveling throughout NH to discover what NH communities are doing for those individuals and families that are struggling to get by each day as they try to get back on their feet. I will seek resources and data to help pave the way for those who are in need for temporary assistance and help charitable organizations get the support they aspire to receive.

It's getting to be that time!

Well, it will be about two weeks when I'll be taking on the challenge...
With the frigid temperatures in New Hampshire, one of my dogs and I will be traveling to several areas in NH living out of a truck while we search for healthy food and charitable resources. I will be taking on some of the daily struggles the homeless do in order to survive. Follow me during Dec. 26, 2011 through January 2nd, 2012 as I visit NH homeless shelters, food pantries, and soup kitchens throughout the week.

Please leave any questions you may have on this project. I will do my very best to find out the answers for you. Big thanks!