05/19/2026
Hey guys, I just wanted to introduce myself and explain my mission, story, and why I feel so strongly about this project.
(Trigger warning: animal processing)
First of all, hello, I’m Ash. A lot of you came from my photography page, and I’m thankful for your support for what I’m trying to do. Having lived experience a few years ago and seeing what things are like now through my outreach, this is a project I’m really passionate about. People are suffering more than ever and are in desperate need of resources.
My mission is to bring essential items such as food, hygiene products, and harm reduction supplies directly to women where they need them most. I’m trying to do this by making care bags filled with these essentials and traveling directly into houseless camps.
There is a clear gap in services for women, so I strive to bridge that gap and provide them with necessities.
I believe traveling directly to where people are is beneficial because they do not have to leave their belongings behind just to seek help. It helps keep people more comfortable and keeps their belongings safer from city tent strikes and sweeps while also making resources easier to access. This is one of the many things people have to constantly worry about while living outside.
Imagine going out to seek help and supplies and then coming back to all your belongings missing. This is the reality many houseless folks are experiencing weekly. Everyone deserves compassion and empathy when it comes to these situations. Over the weekend I interviewed so many people at Grace Park and listened to their experiences. Some of them are being spit at by people in cars, and when tent strikes happen they lose everything they have in this world. Absolutely disgusting. Honestly, it weighs heavily on me. You never know somebody’s story so treat with compassion... We are all here together.
My story:
From 17 to 19, I left and braved the streets of Akron. It was a difficult period, but it also changed my perspective and opened my eyes to a different reality. We jumped from abandoned house to abandoned house in Goodyear Heights and Ellet. Older houses usually meant fireplaces, so we were able to cook in them and keep ourselves warm during the winter. At one point, we even stayed in an abandoned school, doing whatever we could to survive and sometimes eating out of dumpsters. I remember a time when we only had enough money for one loaf of bread, a pack of sliced cheese, and bologna that we split between three people. I remember that hunger deeply, and I would never wish that on anyone.
Eventually, we landed at Second Chance Village at the infamous 15 Broad Street. Honestly, it was a great place. Because I finally had a stable place to stay and community support around me, I was able to grow into the person I am today and do the work I do now.
During my time at the camp, I learned a skill from one of the oldest residents, Gary. He trapped rabbits on the property to eat and share with other people. He taught me how to skin, cook, and tan the hides to sell. Learning how to tan hides became a valuable skill because I was able to use it to make money and survive. It’s kind of crazy that I have a picture of myself tanning hides by the fire in the back of 15 Broad and a picture of the teepee I lived in for four months. I’m glad I have these memories. It’s a reminder of how much I’ve persevered and the road it took to get to where I am today.
Unfortunately, the outreach on Broad Street was eventually shut down, and now many people are scattered wherever they can find somewhere to stay, often alone and without consistent support. Things honestly feel much worse now than they did back then. More and more buildings are disappearing, and new ones are not being built fast enough, creating a serious lack of shelter for houseless people.
Last winter, I spent a lot of time at the emergency warming shelter, and it was at capacity almost every single night. That meant some people were turned away with nowhere else to go. It’s only getting harder for people out there, which is part of why this project means so much to me. I can help because there were services and kind people who helped me when I was in that place. I truly believe that if we work together and collaborate, we can make a difference.
Thank you for everyone’s ongoing support. I’m going to be doing donation drives from time to time, and I’m also looking for trusted volunteers to help with handouts. Thank you for reading.
We are stronger together. 💜
