CHARITY:

Despite pressing needs, wishes are modest

Web site answers the question: What do homeless people in Las Vegas want?

Monday, Dec. 22, 2008 | 2 a.m.

Program granting wishes for Las Vegas homeless (12-19-2008)

Homeless Partners Christmas Wish List

On this Christmas wish list, you’ll see the word “warm” 19 times — as in “warm winter coat,” by far the most popular item.

Hats, gloves, scarves and socks are a close second. Then come phone cards, bus passes, and a laptop, one wisher says, to help find his family.

This is the Homeless Partners Christmas Wish List, a Web site-based project that expanded to Las Vegas and four other U.S. cities this year after three years in Canada.

The idea is to partner with local homeless shelters in each city and ask people staying at the shelters what they want for Christmas. Each person also tells would-be local Santas a bit about himself. The lists and bios are posted online, where community members can click on a gift, committing to getting it and dropping it off at the shelter. They can meet the person they’re giving the gift to as well, if both agree.

In Las Vegas, a church-based nonprofit organization called Hope Worldwide is working with US Vets downtown, which has so far gotten 34 homeless people to post on homelesspartners.com.

Jennie Keeran came up with the idea in late 2005, after moving from the suburbs to downtown Vancouver.

There, she says, she “really noticed homeless people for the first time.”

Harry, a guy with a shopping cart, had been on Vancouver’s streets for 30 years. He scraped out swirls, eagles, bears and whales on the backs of mirrors. Keeran struck up conversations with him. It was three weeks before Christmas. He asked her if she could bring him more mirrors. Then he wanted some boots and socks.

She thought about other homeless people. “If other people could hear their stories, they would want to help them,” she figured.

Keeran said many people want to help those who live in the streets or at shelters, but “they don’t know what to do.” People are hesitant to give money to the homeless, afraid it will go to something unhealthy — like booze. “So they look away.”

So she created the Web site. Thousands of gifts came through. She spread the project to Calgary, where more than 800 homeless people participated. This year she ventured south, with help from church-based groups, to Miami; Boise; Denver; Portland, Ore.; and Las Vegas.

The idea has caught on, she said, like “a coat drive on steroids.” This year Keeran faced some technical difficulties — her computer crashed — and the Las Vegas wish lists weren’t posted until Dec. 14. Still, four people have already “opened” their presents, including Nathaniel R., a 51-year-old plumber who asked for a bus ticket to Kansas City, where he will be able to spend Christmas with his children.

What does it say about the homeless that they mostly seek ways to keep warm and earn a buck?

“That they’re modest, since their requests are for meeting basic needs, things we all take for granted,” Keeran said.

Some of the people on Las Vegas’ list are bracingly straight about themselves, like Donald J., a 55-year-old who admits his “biggest challenge has been to live life on its terms.” For Christmas, Donald would like an “analog watch with a stretchy band.”

Dale D. “would most appreciate prayers related to his biggest challenge ... spending time with his 7-year-old daughter.” Dale wants a coat, hat and some gloves for his girl, as well as some SpongeBob DVDs and first-grade-level books.

Of course, some gifts are easier to pick up than others.

More than one list-maker asked for a job. With unemployment in the Las Vegas area at 7.6 percent, that may not show up under the tree, even though the skills mentioned in the bios include: appliance repair, machine shop, wood shop and forklift operations, office skills, computer and electrical repair, “medical terminology,” typing and building maintenance.

Then there’s Nuane S., originally from Chicago, who wants wisdom, understanding, knowledge and love.

Discussion: 7 comments so far…

By azsk8fan

12/22/08 at 6:45 a.m.

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At the risk of sounding heartless I have to ask - did anyone 'wish' to go to rehab to sober-up or get the drugs out of their system? Did any 'wish' for a job? I'm sorry but I see far too many young, able-bodied people out there begging who are obviously drug addicts and alcoholics who need to clean up their act and become a productive member of society. I grew up with an alcoholic mother and father but my dad worked all day and then came home and drank himself into a stupor - I called him a 'functioning alcoholic'. Same with my brother - hooked on drugs but worked 25 yrs. at the same company and did his drugs after work - so while I may appear to be heartless it's only because having lived with this kind of stuff I know that people need to remember that 'God helps those who help themselves'.
By starrynite7

12/22/08 at 7:54 a.m.

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I think your perception of homeless people is wayyyyy off azsk8fan. I have been homeless as a child and I can tell you that my mother was not into drugs or booze. She was a regular person that was down on her luck. She was a waitress and had four kids to support( no thanks to my dad who never paid his child support) She was the one that tried to ekk out a meager living and keep the bills paid. She failed often and we ended up in shelters and foster homes. I was humiliated as a child when the social workers would come to my school and make a point to pull us out in the middle of the school day to drag us to yet another foster home. My mother was also mentally ill (bipolar) and did not get the help she really needed from the system. We would be put in foster care and then 6 months later when she had an apartment and a job, we would be returned to her and the cycle would begin again. Most homeless people are mentally ill, or through a series of events such as job loss are on the street because they do not have anyone to help them out. When Reagan came into office long ago he threw many mentally ill people out on the street. Jobs are very scare now and people with children are living in cars. How do you think these children feel watching their parents cry themselves to sleep in a homeless shelter. Yes, there are homeless people that drink or take advantage, but many are good people that are just down on their luck or mentally ill. Stop trying to deem these people as drunks..its just not true. Many people think they are drunks to ease their guilt at having so much and being so selfish with their time and money. Truly many of us are just one paycheck away from being on the streets. Buy the homeless some gift certificates from McDonalds, but them some blankets and water. Give them out instead of cash. Make eye contact and smile at them..they are people too. Just think to yourself...what would Jesus do?
By sharon44

12/22/08 at 8:33 a.m.

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I have met these men and women and I can tell you that the US Vets shelter/transitional housing where they are staying offers drug and alcohol counseling, spiritual counseling and job counseling and they all take part. Most of the people at this shelter are there due to circumstances that were pretty much beyond their control. They are veterans who have served this country and are just trying to fit back into society. Don't judge because we never know from day to day when we might be homeless.
God Bless everyone who takes the time to read this and maybe help, if only by offering a prayer. And "What would Jesus do?" is the perfect comment.
By Johnathan_Abbinett

12/22/08 at 11:08 a.m.

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I've worked with Homeless Veterans in Nevada for 8 years now - and I can tell you that about 70% are NOT drinking, drugging, gambling or addicted in anyway! Yet, critics want to force the focus on the lower 30% that are struggling with addictions?

The U.S. Vets is a successful program and should receive more support from the community at-large!

So, everyone, clean out your closets! If you have not worn an item of clothing in the past year - give it away! For you ladies, please do not get in your man's closet without his approval - I've gotten a lot of calls from guys upset with me for not mentioning this caveat!

HA!

Now, everyone, get your "elf" on and take action to help out!
By tmtube

12/22/08 at 12:52 p.m.

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This is wonderful orgainization, I work in the downtown Fremont area and see first hand all the negative side of the homeless, but one should never be blinded or look with only one eye.
If this was your mother, father, brother or sister, and no matter what lifestyle they created or chose, you would never want them to starve to death or freeze to death, One does not have to give money to help, but please do not ignore it and hope it goes away for it will not, and last but not least, as for these homeless vets, many of them gave up a productive life after they served our country, so you or your child did not have to make that sacrafice.. Please think with your heart and help out in any way that your heart will let you.. You will sleep much better for it.
Give thanks that you live in the greatest country on earth
Ted
By azsk8fan

12/23/08 at 6:04 a.m.

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Well the ones I see on the street corners panhandeling certainly DO look like druggies and drunks - many a time I've thought that they just needed to get a shave/shower and sober up and then go get a job. There may be legitimate homeless people out there - I'm sure there are - but many ARE drunks and druggies - and I work too hard for my paycheck to hand it out to someone who's not willing to help themselves.
By sharon44

12/23/08 at 8:04 a.m.

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To azsk8fan,
I feel very sorry for you. I hope that if you are ever in a position to need help, that someone doesn't think like you do and lends you a helping hand. Jesus said that if you feed one of my brothers, you feed me.
Remember, what goes around, comes around.
Whatever you give away eventually comes back to you with interest. I know, it has happened to me.
Open your mind and heart.
Sharon