In the video above, in his own words, Narayanan Krishnan says, “I thought, what is the purpose of my life? What am I going to do? … And I quit my job and I started feeding all these people from 2002.” And later: “There are thousand and thousands and lots and lots of people suffering. What is the ultimate purpose of life? It’s to give. Start giving. See the joy of giving.”
I have done some research on homelessness over the years, and we all know that there are displaced people living on the city streets everywhere in America. The organizations and initiatives highlighted below represent just some of the many phenomenal community efforts supporting homeless people in the U.S. and elsewhere. I found many of them through https://www.justgiving.com, and I’m also proud to point you to this list JustGiving publishes, entitled 35 Ways You Can Help the Homeless. They list as item 7, “give money,” and to that, I’ll add my plea to give whatever you have to spare (from loose change to your time), to those people you see in need.
Also, it’s the time of year when I invite you to join me in sending daily clicks to https://www.GreaterGood.com, where our simple mouseclicks can benefit a number of vital causes each and every day.
Thank you!
- The mission of The Assistance League of Los Angeles is to improve the lives of impoverished children in the Greater Los Angeles Area community through philanthropy, dedicated service, and compassionate programs. For almost 100 years, it has provided local women with opportunities to forge new connections and take leadership while making meaningful contributions to thousands of lives.
- The non-profit BeLoved Asheville was established in 2009 with the goal of ending homelessness, poverty, prejudice, and injustice. With the power of community at the heart of its mission, BeLoved embodies love in Asheville and beyond through its Homeless Voice empowerment project, Mutual Support Resource Center, Free Village Farmers Markets, Community Support, Rise Up Studio Art & Music Collective, Street Medic Team, Sanctuary, House Hunters, Grove St. Gardens, and Community-Driven Justice Campaigns. BeLoved promotes social and economic justice, and supports everyone’s rights to the fullness of life in partnership of numerous organizations.
- Since 1979, the NYC-based Center for Urban Community Services has focused on ending homelessness for as many people as possible… and providing opportunities for low income individuals and families – particularly those living with disabling conditions – to be productive members of the community.
- Chicago Coalition for the Homeless works with families, youths and adults, advocating to better lives through access to shelter, housing, jobs and schools. Regular outreach at more than 30 shelter and street programs reaches more than 4,500 people a year, with downstate organizing in nine Illinois communities, including Aurora, Rockford and Waukegan.
- Crisis is the UK national charity for homeless people. We help people directly out of homelessness, and campaign for the changes needed to solve it altogether. We know that together we can end homelessness.
- The Feeding America network is the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, working to connect people with food and end hunger. Donors, staff, and volunteers all play an important role in our efforts to end hunger in the United States.
- Since 1998, Gobble Gobble Give has spent every Thanksgiving feeding the homeless directly. In major cities across America, this group assembles meals, clothing, and care kits for the homeless and its volunteers take these packages directly to the homeless and in-need.
- The Greater Chicago Food Depository, Chicago’s food bank, is ending hunger every day—providing food for those in need today and working to eliminate the root causes of hunger in our community.
- The mission of the National Coalition for the Homeless is to end homelessness in the United States. Among many other noteworthy initiatives over the past several years, NCH launched the Bringing America Home Act, taking to Congress the belief that people need affordable housing, livable incomes, health care, protection of civil rights and access to education.
- In New York City, the Partnership to End Homelessness, which began in 1982 with a single emergency shelter for men in the basement of a Greenwich Village church, strives to provide decent and affordable housing, community-based social services, stabilizing aftercare, and effective job training that translates into self-sufficiency and independence.
- Why Hunger is a non-profit that fosters numerous programs and activities to effectively advance long-term solutions to hunger and poverty by supporting community-based organizations that empower individuals and build self-reliance.
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So many people are focused on the giving of gifts… few stop to think how invaluable it is just to take an interest in someone, to listen to them… to give them even a few seconds of one’s time. There is a lot of beauty and positivity expressed in this story. Thank you for shining a light on the true spirit of Christmas.
Homelessness has always been a concern of mine. I always say “except for the grace of God, there goes I”. God has always been so good to me and I am so blessed. Yes, even your pocket change can make a difference. Think how much pocket change adds up when added together. And, as Bob S. said “your time to take an interest in someone” makes a big difference. There are so many lonely people in this world. Especially during the Holidays. Thanks for this article.
Billie – thank you for sharing your thoughts. I feel the same way. I’ve done some research over the years – one thing that says with me is knowing that one serious illness could be enough to put many people on the street. Once, doing research for a screenplay, I spent a night on the street in Orlando. Essentially, I was treated as a non-person. Hoping some rays of light will come from this focus.