Instead of making a tough decision myself, I’ll let you decide! Not only do you get to vote on the fate of the beard, but you are also donating to a terrific cause. The Shave or Save the Beard Campaign is raising money for The Curbside Chronicle to help employ homeless men and women in Oklahoma City. All you have to do is select the link Contact Us at the top of this page. That will take you to th
e donation site when you can click the “donate now” button to get started. Then at the bottom of the next page there is a space where you can leave a message with your donation. In that space write "Shave" or "Save" to vote on the fate of my beard. There is a minimum $1 donation for your vote to count. However, you can donate without voting as well. Not only do you get to decide the fate of my facial hair, but top donors also receive a token of appreciation for their support. Read on for more information. The Homeless Alliance is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the system of care for the homeless in Oklahoma City by creating innovative solutions that combat poverty. One of the Homeless Alliance’s programs is The Curbside Chronicle, a magazine that employs and empowers homeless and low-income individuals in Oklahoma City. Homeless men and women sell The Curbside Chronicle magazine as a way to earn a legitimate income and as a positive alternative to panhandling. The magazine serves as a transition tool, employing those in need and helping them build job skills and gain valuable work experience before transitioning into other career opportunities. Curbside vendors also use their profits from magazine sales to transition into housing and afford their financial needs. In addition to providing income to the homeless, The Curbside Chronicle also provides a voice to the homeless with its content. 50% of its content is written by the homeless or about issues of poverty. The Curbside Chronicle seeks to educate the community about local social issues and provide a voice to marginalized groups. They want to increase awareness for homeless issues and decrease stigmatization around the situation. The other 50% of content revolves around a wide variety of topics, highlighting OKC and the growth and vibrancy of the community. What makes the Homeless Alliance and The Curbside Chronicle special is that they provide a legitimate way for people to get back on their feet, while also raising awareness for the issue of homelessness and poverty from the perspective of those who have experienced it. Not only will your donations go towards an extraordinary cause, but you also get to participate in the fate of my beard and receive a token of appreciation. Once all donations are in, the top 3 donors will be contacted about their gifts. The deadline to vote and give is October 31, 2015. Check out our prizes for the top 3 donors:
• The highest donor will receive a signed photograph by Benjamin Davis from his series of photos that highlight Curbside Chronicle vendors and their lives.
• The 2nd highest donor will receive an original painting from Mileena Zafra, beard lover and supporter of The Homeless Alliance.
• The 3rd highest donor will receive a signed original poem on the issue of poverty from twice published poet Kurtis DeLozier.
• All donors will receive an issue of The Curbside Chronicle magazine.
• The person who donates the least receives a piece of my beard. In addition to The Curbside Chronicle, the Homeless Alliance operates a variety of other programs. The Alliance oversees operations of a comprehensive resource center and day shelter called WestTown Homeless Resource Campus, which consists of a library, showers, commercial kitchen serving breakfast and lunch, 12 computer workstations, barbershop/salon, and a classroom space for AA and NA classes, devotionals, art classes, and other educational opportunities. To learn more about these Homeless Alliance or The Curbside Chronicle, please visit:
http://www.homelessalliance.org/
http://thecurbsidechronicle.org/
