Alcoholism and homelessness are never a good combination. This is the story of one man, Buddy Herndon, and how his battles with that desperate combination have made an impact on the lives of others. Buddy struggled with substance abuse most of his adult life. When his wife died, he entrusted his sister, Alice, with his daughter. Despite efforts of Buddy’s family, things went from bad to worse. He bounced between the streets, city jail, and City Union Mission, until he was beaten and left for dead in an alley. But, God wasn’t finished writing his story. Twenty-five years after Buddy died from the beating, Alice received a phone call from City Union Mission. Staff was contacting donors to learn about their connections to the Mission. During subsequent conversations, Alice learned 80% of men, and nearly as many women and children, seeking shelter every night have to be turned away due to lack of space. Thinking of her brother being turned away broke her heart. Alice and her husband, Tom, gathered seven godly women, and committed to providing fifty cold weather care bags to the Mission for those who had to be turned away. But they didn’t donate fifty bags that first winter . . . they packed and delivered over 125 Buddy Bags. In the last two years, as Buddy Bag Project, Inc. has become more familiar with needs of people in transition and/or poverty, the team of nine has grown to nearly fifty. Over 1,000 care bags have been delivered to the Men’s Shelter, and given to guests at the Family Center, including cold weather gear for kids, hygiene items for women, and school supplies. The mission of Buddy Bag Project, Inc. is to partner with individuals and groups to enrich the lives of people in transition and/or poverty, with kindness, through fellowship, service, and distribution of personal daily use items. VISION & MISSION STATEMENTS https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GGwxCoI_NugB7zzRS3spF1UmHcVOS95_DIMN3sSu5nQ/edit?usp=sharing
BUDDY BAG PROJECT, INC. IN ACTION
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vQKbI4hy1Qlc6Itpifi5pAZVrTqXgbR4ZbTEXdO5-YGYEUia0AIglTnQht0M-KdT4q3WADGuQ0nBPfz/pub?start=true&loop=true&delayms=5000
