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The DO Foundation holds the essential belief that ALL people, no matter their walk of life, is entitled to dignity, respect and community assistance in realizing a life of self-sufficiency.
-Administrator / DO Foundation
November 6, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Thanks for Doing Something and making the world more aware of what is going on right in our own cities.
November 10, 2009 at 9:24 am
Hi, my name is Francine. I am a dancer. Certified Instructor. I was recently inspired to do something about an unquestionable experience of a very compassionate human being. Inspiration, that’s where it all begins. I read his posting about the experiences he’d encountered with the homeless. As a vessel, standing in their place to see what it is that they are going through; I, too, have stood in their place, I have taken on a few burdens they’ve experienced, however, not to the extent as Brian. As a fitness instructor, I thought about this long and delicately. How would the homeless, who are actually already sheltered, however, are only given about a week or two to get work or they are back on the streets. (I have written the shelter about this, making a change for them in the case that they cannot find work in that amount of time and back out again; I also will be mentioning the ‘DO FOUNDATION’, how that Brian’s mission is of an immediate help from people helping people, being conscious and aware of what’s around them). I see it everyday as I take my teen to school and me to work of very minimal hours, salary, and means I am; but whatsoever resources have of we who can do something, just do it. They’re out there. As a bridge, I expand, extend my abilities to those who are unable to open a door to possibilities because their immediate needs are what matters: food, clothing, a roof, shelter from the heat, shelther from the rain, the cold, shelter for protection of others who don’t care and just look upon them as they are just another tree, but a withered one. I extend to a few at a shelter avenues, in fitness, to ease the day to day stress, I bring fruit baskets for them to indulge and water after a group fitness activity of which I was reeeeally nervous about because I didn’t know how they would handle this. As I was given clearance to start up a class there by their board, who were also either in a situation of being abused by husbands, lost homes due to foreclosures, and many stories I ‘hear’ they tell me of, To my surprise, the women stated to me in excitement how much more of this they wanted…they said this is what they need…fitness. I believe it is a level of showing some sort of hope, that somebody cares about them, they are not forgotten about. At the support group meeting I was invited to, staff introduced me to them as their first fitness trainer. Because most didn’t have fitness in their lives or didn’t know what to expect, they were somewhat happy. However, when I actually began the program for them, they said that they had no idea it was going to be like this. I mean, the smiles, their faces were different from what they appeared when i first saw them! One said to me, I have not done exercise like this before, and, another asked me if I could teach them everyday (i don’t have that kind of energy) however, I can only do what I can. I was soo nervous. here I am, thirty minutes before i began the first class with them at eight o’clock pm last Saturday, I stand in meditation after having cleared their recreation room, pushing furnitures against the wall, for enough room for as many gathered for fitness. I set up the table with health information brochures, food pyramids…Immediately i thought, something is missing: nutrition, fruits! So, I went to the local grocer, bought bananas, apples, naval oranges, grapes, dumped them into my green wicker basket, and into the tupperware i had, i put brocoli, (raw), peanuts (unsalted), and carrots! yes! So, I rushed back to the recreations room and neatly set up the long meeting table with all they need to know about health and nutrition and the fruits and water. Its amazing how even as little as we may have in resources can affect a needy one’s life. What little I had meant a lot to them. they have something to look forward to. Somebody cares, don’t give up hope. In turn, I saw behind their eyes, the eyes of the homeless women in this shelter, I heard some of their cries. One lady said under her breath, ‘I need someone to do something for me, to guide me, to do something’. that is her exact words. I had goose bumps when she said that, because it reminded me of the ‘Do Foundation’. They need fresh ice water, when i can i get them fresh ice/water. they need to know that ‘we’ as a society, too care. there is but so much an agency or shelter can do. Let’s all do whatsoever we can to help them. It could happen to anyone. People have lost homes to foreclosure, condominium conversion which has been happening alot here in central florida, i know because i was a victim of a condo conversion project and once that occurs, the family has no other alternative but to move out effective the date the give unless the renter becomes a buyer? smart. i’ve been renting all my life long in central florida and suddenly i have an option to put down maybe five thousand dollars on an apartment i’ve been renting without a savings as such, and why would i want to buy out an apartment i as a child was raised in from the sixties, the building was tattered and floors sunk into the first floored apartments. well, enough said…i am doing what i can to my ability to help others and i do hope you will too. francine
November 10, 2009 at 1:05 pm
…I’m continuing my experience as I set forth to help in support of the homeless in what I can. This blog is in continuation of my last blog. A work in progress. “Good job is hard to do…” a verse from a song by the Jacksons Five called, “Let Me Show You”. Well, this song played out in my mind with tears. I think of a part in the Word where Joshua(Yahoshua) was commissioned to take over Moses’ duty of leading the Israelites out of the Land of Egypt in to the Land flowing with milk and honey. People, we are as Joshua, continuing a work, a mission, carrying out a will, a promise of one, some, many who have that desire in their hearts to do something that benefits society as a whole. Inspired by a video, a song, “Dream In Color”, I was moved…and…without expectation to do what I have done. A shelter for the homeless women, some in whats known as ‘ER’ who are on the verge of being in the streets, put out due to expiration of time in establishing permanent income for housing, they’re given six days to do so. damn, that’s messed up. How do they expect these women to find work in time before they have no place else to go? Do they have family? Maybe yes, in some cases as one I’ve met, have let them down and don’t communicate. okay, here’s the scenario at the shelter whereby with i have been commissioned in group fitness (volunteer basis). There are many walks of life and stories. One woman and her child were there a week and were asked to move out of shelter because she couldn’t find work in enough time. The staff there said to her as she was leaving, ‘thanks for being here’…she turned to me and said, ‘–, will you please take me to–?’, say no more, ‘..let’s get your things, i’m parked out front..’; items: heavy..the boxes, bags, duffles…mercy…how can the women’s center send her off this way without providing transportation? ‘…they told me to get there the best way i knew how: walk..’ omg! finally, the mother and her daughter made their way to my vehicle as i was clearing out the trunk of my jeep and back seat with my fitness materials and gear. i cried..inside, smiled outside. her daughter said ‘mom, a car!’ it’s obvious they’ve walked alot here and there, place to place. i took them to a shelter suggested by the shelter they came from, worse than the first…i almost died; it was corroded at the gate with hundreds waiting to get a place of rest; there was music, a tv, loud talk, stinch, i waited as the gate opened by a stander by at the coalition, i drove maybe 2mph flickered my lights as signal for the homeless that a family is coming through; as joshua in the wilderness, once we got past that, it was, huum, okay..so, i parked…the little girl asked her mom and i, ‘where are we?” her mom sincerely told her where they were..i said to her after helping bring her things into the shelter, if there’s anything you need, call me. she offered and insisted i take some money for gas getting her there, naturally, i refused it, she hugged me and i told her that on wednesdays you can apply for housing on south street, see, was didn’t know the area and the shelter from which she came from should be equipped with information; thats where we come in; where theres a lack of substance, we sustain those with resources/knowledge we may have to help; i made my way back out through the gates of the coalition…another day, a woman had a sickly child with an extremely high fever, the womens shelter know of it, however, had not offered to provide this family with the van-service transportation on the property; that’s where we come in, maybe they have their reasons, i do not know. that morning, i had to get my child to her academy ontime before the academy bus leaves shell station otherwise, i go an extra ten miles the opposite direction from work..i took a chance, she had a weary look, because she had no one to take her to the emergency room; i said to her, with a pause…i’ll take you there; she put her stroller in the suv and held her son, my daughter in front seat in wonder, i explained later; my daughter made it to school on time, i knew i’d be late for class, therefore i called and asked that the other instructor catch the first few minutes of my class that i’ll be there in a few; so, she had my class to do stretches and had them to do a warmup and explained that i was on my way; another case scenario: a woman, maybe in her mid sixties, vibrant attitude, loves attention, when i went to the rec room to set up for a first time fitness class, she sat at an out of tuned piano, with another piano sitting on top, with sheet music; i said, ‘i hope i’m not interrupting.’ she response with a scratchy voice, ‘..no, you’re not, i’m practicing for an audition in piano..go right ahead..’ she began to play..i said to her, ‘you’re pretty good with that thing’..she responded, ‘i can’t audition until i get my teeth fixed, i can’t audition like this..’ she loves karaoke…on one of our dance fitness class nites i teach there on saturdays, she love to sing with the singing machine so, i have their front office to call up all who wants to sing, as they are so pleased to announce, ‘all interested in dance fitness it’ll be held at 8 o’clock after all chores are complete’…staff who made this announcement came to in the rec room after her loudspeaker announcement, that ‘you should see all the women are rushing to do their chores to come to your class!’ i already know that people love zumba dance fitness in general, i just didn’t know how those at a shelter would respond due to the circumstances: will they have the energy after their tiresome day, i don’t know. but altogether, what matters is this: they all smiled, had something to smile about, some sort of hope to look forward to as i briefed them before starting the class what to expect: ‘..you’re all here for a reason, you recognize the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, even through chaotic times, we cant forget as women that we must focus on our health in mind, body and soul. just because youre here does not mean you have to let go of you, there are challenges you face from day to day, the foods you eat, i don’t know alot but can help educate you about good carbs and bad carbs..the right proteins and fruits necessary for essential vitamins. don’t forget about your health because you are here.’ then i lead them into the group fitness beginning with the simplistics. well, there is more, but…i have to cut it short right here, i am at the computer terminal of the city of orlando where i work and we know the rest…peace and happiness. francine
November 12, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Some Facts on homelessness!
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It is essential for everyone to understand the seriousness of this situation, as at any given time, any of us could be faced with the same fate.
On any given night in the United States about 750,000 people experience homelessness. Right now, there are 5.2 million more low-income households that need housing than there are affordable housing units.
The primary cause of homelessness isn’t drug or alcohol abuse, nor is it mental illness. The primary cause is the lack of housing that low income people can afford. Over 5 million low income families pay half of their income in housing or live in substandard conditions.
According to the National Coalitiion for Homeless Stats
In 50 cities studied, the official estimated number of homeless people greatly exceed the number of shelters and transitional housing space. There are few to no shelters in rural areas thus many homeless are forced to live with friends and family in crowded temporary arrangements.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates (as there are no concrete ways to determine the exact number of homeless individuals. This epidemic doesn’t merely speak of those living on the streets, it also includes minors, those in shelters and transitional housing, living with friends and relatives, motels and in their cars.)
About 1% of the entire U.S population is homeless. 10% of the poor. And about 842,000 added on any given week.
40% of them are families w/children (the fastest growing segment to date)
41% single male
5% unaccompanied minors
39% of the total homeless population are children under the age of 18.
49% Black
35% White
13% Hispanic
2% Native American
1% Asian American
58% report having trouble getting enough food to eat.
23% Veterans
25% physically or sexually abused
27% were in foster care or similar institutions as children
54% were incarcerated at some point in their lives
28% have more than a high school education
44% have worked in the past week
13% have regular jobs
50% receive less than $300 per month income
71% live in central cities
21% live in suburbs
9% live in rural areas
People, let’s stand together and DO SOMETHING.
The experience of being in the midst of this crisis is ever humbling. You cannot imagine the stories behind some of the victims of this epidemic. To many of us sit back and decide that these people are failures in life because of their situation. Who are we to pass judgment on them. Have we walked in their shoes, do we know their stories. Have we lived even an inkling of their lives?
Imagine the single mom who has worked hard her entire adult life to provide for her family. Suddenly due to the economic crisis she loses her job unexpectedly. Imagine this woman, never utilizing or taking from the system making every effort to get help, only to have door after door slammed in her face.
Day by day everything she has worked for begins to disappear. Her savings, her resources, her home, her belongs, her self esteem, her will power to even live another day.
She’s forced to look into the eyes of her children and tell them that tonight they have to share this sandwich or even worse, they can’t eat at all.
This isn’t a woman that has lived her life trying to get over. She’s done everything expected of her, yet when she faces those in connection to the system they look upon her and treat her like she is a failure. Imagine going to seek help from government agencies and being denied because you don’t have a residence or can’t prove that you do. Only, you can’t get a residence without assistance. It’s a catch 22.
You can’t not imagine the number of people living this same story.
What can we do to help them?
The better question is………….WHAT WILL WE DO TO HELP THEM?
November 12, 2009 at 9:28 pm
WOW I find those #’s amazing. Especially the racial ones. Blacks and whites are really not that far apart in percentages, but then there is a huge jump from white to Hispanic and the rest.
Where do we start, Brian? What do we do? Do we get back to that philosophy of “it takes a village”
I think most people are frightened of people that are homeless..maybe because they can see a reflection of themselves and know they may be one step away from that scenario? If you don’t look it square in the face then it doesn’t exist? Like people ignoring that lump in their breast..”Oh no, there is no way it’s cancer”
We are all guilty of it.
It’s called DENIAL. We all do it in every aspect of our lives..drinking, eating, emotional problems, sexual and physical abuse…
Facing things are hard and most people don’t want to change.
We are truly blessed in this country, but we are shooting ourselves in the foot with outsourcing every single thing we do.
Oh……….. I could go on and on and on and on…LOL
But Brian.. You know I support you AND your music 100%.. always have and always will..
Maybe we should do a photojournalism expose when you come out here..it’s not only in Detroit.. it’s here too.
November 16, 2009 at 12:36 pm
To: Kelly/Brian:
I have also mentioned to you about doing a tour for the homeless city to city and/or state to state especially during the holiday season. Great minds think alike! That would be a great idea! If you could do it in each city/state you could have a represenative pick out a shelter in each city/state that they are in. We have several here in Little Rock. Salvation Army, Dorcas House for Battered Women, Watershed (they give during Thanksgiving and Christmas as well as year round).
November 16, 2009 at 12:47 pm
To: Kelly/Brian:
Also I think it will be also great to have the friends/fans who attend the Benefit Show to bring can goods, blankets, coats etc. and it goes to the shelter that the city/state is sponsoring.
November 18, 2009 at 1:04 am
OMG, this extends the homeless, is an epidemic that can not be sold, I stay with my mouth open when reading the statistics, it is incredible that no one takes charge of the case and who suffer every day they are, I can not imagine one more time on the street, I never want to go through it, obviously you have to follow the lead and somehow something must be done, thanks Brian for having us in the know, follow the path, God is with you all!
Maria Eimil”
December 6, 2009 at 6:35 pm
First and foremost, Thank You Brian for stepping up, you have inspired many I am sure, I am one. Have helped in a few different areas with the homeless. But I have recently became more intune to the devastation and overwhelming need. I am working on a few different things to further assist the DO foundation. And plan to keep spreading the word so more are made aware of the need. Thank You for allowing me this opportunity to work with you. Peace be with you.
December 25, 2009 at 5:13 pm
“Affluence creates poverty.” (Marshall McLuhan)
January 27, 2010 at 7:00 pm
Per Brian’s request-I would like to get a discussion started on how someone who is about to become homeless and has tried everything to get a job and keep their home, car and state of mind-brainstorm some ideas that could help-and not become another statistic. Thank you ahead of time to keep this going-one person’s idea can become a reality.
May 2, 2010 at 12:29 pm
@jimm i think you are not exactly right because this video shows it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NVuUAr4MMs