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Project Description
After a rash of homeless beatings by teenagers, it was time for the Beta Club students to learn first hand about the homeless people in their community and spend time with homeless adults at a downtown shelter. This book, written by the students, is the result of this project, and puts a human face on the homeless and their plight, by letting us know that... "Everyone Has A Story To Tell."
This book was a year in the making and now that it is finally released, the possibilities are endless. All the money raised from the book is given back to our efforts at the Coalition for the Homeless in downtown Orlando. We continue to visit the children and adults at the homeless shelter with the Beta Club at our school and recently have started a movement in our community. Now various other clubs and individuals are getting involved with the community.
Our goal is to continue to spread awareness of, prevent, and soon end homelessness and to build up our fellow neighbors to be the best they can be. There has been discussion between the Beta officers about another book...perhaps you'll see us again on the book shelves...But for now we are definitely going to keep helping our community and spreading our message!
Great news! I have been inspired to create another project for the homeless. I have started raising money for a walk-a-thon for the homeless. I hope to accomplish this by November to walk along neighbors for our cause. I plan to call it "A Walk in Their Shoes." If you have any information that may help please leave a comment.
After achieving this goal I plan on doing another project to help the homeless. I want to call it "Concrete Dreams." It will be a day where people take themselves out of the comfort of their own homes and take a glimpse of what it is like to be homeless. There will be more information regarding this after A Walk in Their Shoes.
For a look at some more pictures about me, my project, the things I have done, and the people I have met go to my Flickr
Vital Stats
| Started On: | November 26th 2006 | Ended On: | The day that people stop caring...NEVER |
| People Involved: | Last Year's Beta Club Delegates (43), The Homeless Interviewees (30), The numerous contributors, The countless readers, The millions of homeless people still not impacted, and finally YOU | People Impacted: | Still Counting... We have impacted people through our book, and newspaper articles, news segments, book signings, and monologues about us. |
| Money Raised: | $4,211 and counting... |
Project Updates:
Our Book Came Out! It is titled "Everyone Has a Story to Tell" and you can buy it on Amazon, Ebookstand, or through my very own Maynard Evans High School, just let me know 
Or if you'd like, you can check it out at your local library (you might only find it in orange county though...)
6/5/07
We visited the Coalition for the Homeless Women's Residential & Counseling Center today. The Beta Club volunteered and contributed greatly for the homeless women and children. Half of the group assisted and participated in yoga lessons for the women while the other half entertained the kids by coloring and playing musical chairs to a local band. We all had fun and hope the moms and kids enjoyed the activities and food!
10/16/07
Tis the season! This holiday season is characterized by giving. For this reason the homeless shelters experience the busiest time of the year, given the influx of people, donations, and volunteers. However, after much planning by yours truly we got an event at the Coalition for the Homeless. We decorated numerous cookies with the children and parents at the shelter and made fun balloons and carry baskets for the kids to bring back to their families. There were smiles all around and some of us had a bit too much fun with the icing...(check out some of the picture to see for yourself.) I speak for the entire Beta Club when I say we wish your holidays were as bright and cheery as this night! Happy Holidays
12/14/07
Today is National Homeless Memorial Day, get active!
12/21/07
Today we went to the Second Harvest Food Bank and sorted food. Today it was mostly about candy and snacks. It is AMAZING how much we throw away. There were dumpsters of good food gone to waste, and that was just snacks in a little part of Orlando! Imagine all the food we throw out in the world... Please buy what you need and give what you don't. Donate unused goods to food banks like this, just look up some places close by, maybe you can start your own project
1/12/08
Get involved with service learning projects. I taught a workshop on service learning and homelessness at Timber Creek. Many attended and bought some books for the Coalition for the Homeless. It was a lot of fun and I not only taught but learned a great deal that day.
2/2/08
How often do you a random act of kindness? Here is your chance to make this a good habit. Today kicks off Random Acts of Kindness Week! What will you do? For me I'll be devoting my time cleaning up the family residential halls and washing blankets for newcomers. Every little thing counts!
2/12/08
This was one of the best community service events I have ever planned! We had a circus day at the Coalition. Kids had fun with the clown handing out balloons and toys as others had their face painted. This was a blast!
2/23/08
Movie Night! Today we are going to the Coalition for the Homeless and watching a movie and munching down some popcorn with the kids. Can't wait!
3/18/08
M/ore updates coming soon!
Keep a lookout for upcoming pictures of our events!