Street Reach for the Homeless

Street Reach for the Homeless All donations are now only on the north side of the City working around my work schedule pls. Thank you for understanding.

The Street Reach for the Homeless van is getting ready for the "T shirt Pop Up" next week.Again, NO donations please Mon...
08/21/2026

The Street Reach for the Homeless van is getting ready for the "T shirt Pop Up" next week.

Again, NO donations please Monday or early Tuesday as I will finish loading the van on Sunday and Monday, most likely.

My thanks to Edwin and Sharon Dobbins who last night gave me more pantry items (Pantry Pop Up end of September), pillowcases (will use 4 next week), a few more refillable water bottles and ball caps (all now with the others) and more t shirts that are now in the stacks waiting to be bagged.

Thanks, this morning to Cheri Smitley Scherry who donated more t shirts and 17 bottles of laundry detergent. I went home and put 10 of those bottles into a tote for the "T shirt Pop Up" just to make it a tad better.

I met Karen Ann Weeks, who will join me next week to help, with a case of water so she could put it in her frig to cool and the bag of laundry detergent as I still have t shirts, 4 pillows, 10 hygiene bags and duffles/bookbags to still get in my van.

The van now contains the bug spray bottles, the throws, the refillable water bottles, the hats and the body wipes with, hopefully, room for everything else.

Blessed with your donations making this possible. Forecast is clear. It is a go for Tuesday next week!!

God bless.

Last night, I attended Fort Wayne City Council one more time. To my dismay, both Councilman Jehl (no surprise) and Coun...
08/19/2026

Last night, I attended Fort Wayne City Council one more time. To my dismay, both Councilman Jehl (no surprise) and Councilman Hartman both decided to leave before the public comments and at this point, if you are not going to stay to hear public opinions in the allotted time, I can only hope that you both will be voted out at some point and Councilman Meyers remains absent.

It is my personal opinion that if this council supports Councilman Meyers while he is in rehab (as they should) they should have the same respect for an "unhoused" person who needs the same services which they don't support. smh

While I support the location and services of the Anchor Resource Center, I aimed at the "gotcha" game played by both of the two councilmen who left early.

Neither professional nor lacking leadership. Again, my personal opinion, and in the words of one of those two gents who pointed his words at me ....... morally repugnant...... as you turn your backs on the citizens there, last night, and those needing the assistance of the resource center that you are both currently opposing.

Public comment time IS ....... an open forum ....... Councilman Hartman. The public is invited to speak at 40-50 people did last night but, unless you were viewing elsewhere, you missed those comments that simply were not important enough to stay for.

4 churches have been represented at the public mic over the last months. 3 of those 4 serve the homeless of our community and 1 does not and remains opposed. Hmmmmmmm

I addressed the statement last week that referred to the mentally ill and those addicted reminding all ..... again ..... the leading cause of homelessness is lack of affordable housing and poverty. 56% of Americans are one paycheck away from living in a tent, a car, or even under a bridge.

For those who believe they know of the homeless (again, 2 not in attendance) because of tours of the The Rescue Mission (which I do support) or serving a meal there, I am sorry, that is just a field trip and not a relationship/connection to understand the who, the whys and the dreams for the future.

I plan to attend the Monday event at the Grand Wayne Center and can only hope (pray) all councilpersons will also join along with a mass of the public - either pro or con. We know where I stand but I have to hear your views to know how to respond.

Public urination? Anchor Resource Center will have restrooms and showers.

Drug use? Anchor Resource Center will have case managers for addictions, mental health concerns as well as gateways to potential housing, work force development and possible paths to employment.

Lower barrier/no barrier? Anchor Resource Center will have codes of conduct, accountability and security for the center.

Together, as a city, we must step forward to help all our citizens!! Dignity and respect must be given so that it will be returned. Kindness can fill any void so that all feel valued and loved.

God bless.

Yesterday, began loading for the upcoming "T shirt Pop Up".11 Spiderman throws are in the Street Reach for the Homeless ...
08/17/2026

Yesterday, began loading for the upcoming "T shirt Pop Up".

11 Spiderman throws are in the Street Reach for the Homeless van, the baseball caps are loaded as are the refillable water bottles.

Went to the Maplecrest $1.25 Tree store around 5pm last night. My fav cashier was working. Most likely have not seen him since last fall. We both said how long it had been seen we had seen each other. He said......you still doing this?? My reply ....... you still doing this?? I bought the 4 men's body washes that I needed and I went with 4 bristle hairbrushes for the women. No hygiene bags will be loaded early since the deodorant will not do well in the heat of the van.

Still will shop Walmart on Coldwater Rd later this week, for 2 more categories (possibly 3).

"T shirt Pop Up" will be next week and the t shirts will be loaded next Sunday so NO Monday or Tuesday donations next week please.

God bless.

This morning was my first ever "snack attack" Pop up at InAsMuch Ministry this morning, a bit before 10 a.m..My thanks t...
08/12/2026

This morning was my first ever "snack attack" Pop up at InAsMuch Ministry this morning, a bit before 10 a.m..

My thanks to Denny Coverstone who snacks I used along with one box of "on sale" chips from Krogers a few weeks ago when I decided to this.

Filled two totes with approximately 80 snacks - chips, popcorn, cheezits, cookies, Rice Krispy treats, fruit gummy snacks, dried apple chips, etc.

My thanks to a gent who carried the cold case of water from the Street Reach for the Homeless van across the street to the table inside. (fractured wrist could do the carry to the frig over night and then this morn from the frig to the van but further than that is simply more than I can do).

I had 12 of the donated Spiderman throws that were gone in the blink of an eye. Thank you, Cheri Smitley Scherry!!! (3 were gone before I stepped into the building just from folks on the sidewalk outside).

30 of the hygiene kits from Ivy Tech (same as I used Sunday at the 2 pop ups - pic from the first Sunday Pop Up). Some kits went directly to those in attendance and extras stayed with the facility.
One gent is now off the streets - clean and healthy - living at the Freedom House.

Another couple who living on the streets for 3 years are now under roof with the help of InAsMuch Ministry and he has disability payments that easily cover expenses.

My thanks to all who made this Surprise Snack Attack Pop Up possible.

Many thankful folks this morn!!

Staying flexible! Staying strong! Sharing our blessings with others.

God bless.

Two "Hygiene bag Pop Ups" in one day. My thanks to Kemel Mitchell and Ivy Tech for nearly 200 hygiene bags! Wow and so...
08/09/2026

Two "Hygiene bag Pop Ups" in one day. My thanks to Kemel Mitchell and Ivy Tech for nearly 200 hygiene bags! Wow and so many thankful!!

I purchased 30 rolls of t.p. from Kroger before heading down and then thank Pam Fischer and other for the refillable water bottles. I also went through an entire roll of trash bags for clean up.
6 tents, 2 sleeping bags, 3 blankets, socks and unders handed out in Promenade Park beginning at 9:30 a.m. with Julie Pottsand needed 10.

3 tents and one black handed out in Freimann Sq. with Food Not Bombs Fort Wayne at 2pm and needed 5.

1 tent already promised in 2 weeks at the "T shirt Pop Up" that is coming.

Karen Ann Weeks 5 tents last night and I will be meeting her this afternoon with 30 hygiene bags and snacks/brownies from Pauline Grotemat for those she serves each morning and evening.

For one gal who saw the "Spiderman" throws and wanted one, I let her know those are being saved for the "Snack Attack". I will have NO tents available on that day. That is 9 tents for me in one day and that is my limit!!!

Folks, this is a housing/shelter crisis and for those who are saying these are peeps that don't want to work, that want to break rules, are addicted, high or drunk, NOT ONE person I met today (over 120) met that criteria so please take a seat.

14 tents representing 16 people as two are couples. Only one was a replacement tent due to damage.

I will return to City Council this week as the vote is taken for the Anchor Resource Center. I can assure you, people who were sweating and hot, looking for deodorant (Food Not Bombs Fort Wayne had some available) and asking for clean socks and t shirts will appreciate the a/c, the showers and the laundry facilities right off the bat and welcome a path that can lead them to shelter/housing that does not include a tent, a bridge or the elements.

God bless.

08/08/2026

Hygiene bag Pop Up tomorrow at Promenade Park 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Thanks to Ivy Tech staff & students!!!

Last night, I, again, attended Fort Wayne City Council. My thanks to Councilwoman Michelle Chambers for moving the vote...
08/05/2026

Last night, I, again, attended Fort Wayne City Council. My thanks to Councilwoman Michelle Chambers for moving the vote for the Anchor Resource Center to next Tuesday as all questions from the Council have been answered and over 500 questions on Engage were responded to.

I spoke of the changing face of homelessness. More than 1000 unhoused FWCS children. Women on the streets because the waiting lists for women are longer than long and taking months to find an open slot. Veterans were within my Homeless count and that is an insult to their service for this country. "Alice" (asset limited, income constrained, employed) represent a percentage of the 57% of Americans living paycheck to paycheck that need a path to hope and opportunity.

I have not walked since I fell on Sunday at my dearly deceased friend home dividing some of the hostas we had planted together, years ago) to now bring to my home before that house goes on the market (back is feeling a tad better, took the wrist brace off today for the first time - hand still swollen - hairline fracture is my best guess-, underside totally black and blue but no pain as in the first 2 days). Did take another 2 acetaminophen/Ibuprofen to help reduce the swelling this morn. 2 when it happened, 4 on Day 1, 2 on Day 2 and now 2 today.

I carried the small bag of grass clippings to my house from about 1.5 blocks away. I walked back 2 more times to another house on the same street for cardboard. That was the sum of the walking.
My neighbor 2 doors down also puts his grass clippings each week along the side of the rain garden.

So.........one sheet of cardboard for the grass clippings in the back.
Cut down (not easy with loppers but one hand holding and pressing again my thigh since my left hand is of no help) some large mallow plants that I had allowed to grow along the back edge of the side garden (in front of the cast iron clawfoot bathtub) and placed them in the trash.

Walked back for more cardboard - (1) sheet in the front rain garden smothering an area with the clippings from my 2 door down neighbor. (2) sheets where I cleared out the mallow and then raked the remaining lily leaves (my young next-door neighbor) had piled in his yard and had asked if I would take to add to my compost pile (it was already filled with other lily leaves so this was additional). Got you, sir.

Dug one small patch of variegated False Solomon Seal and planted it along the old edge of the back side garden before I changed the footprint to pull that area out another 3+ feet.

My eyes can envision more but I now have to wait months to see if my October I would be able to dig any of the smothered area. I might purchase 2 purple coneflowers before they are sold out and either wait to see if I can plant then or tuck in somewhere else and wait for spring. I have more Black Eyed Susans and Solomons Seal to move but they can always wait.

So, a busy Wednesday morning for this gal. Thankful for the Council meeting last night and now nervously await next Tuesday for the vote.

Also, filled my tank, this morn, and not at Kroger so I could save my points for the next fill up when the price skyrockets on August 7. My Kroger was at $3.65 and found a different station, as I headed toward Coldwater Rd on St Joe/St Joe Ctr. I had never been to at $3.55. You are the winner!!!! Thank you.

God bless.

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Fort Wayne, IN

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