This past week has caused me to reflect on a number of things that encapsulate my life. The project in general has caused me to look at my life and the things in it in a completely different light. There are millions of people that go without basic needs, things that I try not to take for granted, but in retrospect I take a lot for granted. This project has been at the forefront of my mind for the past month, partially because it's part of the course requirement, but mainly because this population really has my heart.

The stereotypes of being homeless could potentially hurt more than actually being homeless (I was raised to call homeless individuals neighbors, so in this blog when I refer to a neighbor, I'm speaking of a homeless individual). When interviewing individuals most of them were more hurt by the way people treated them, rather then their unwillingness to help. We tend to stereotype all homeless individuals into categories into that consist of drug abusers and lazy people; rather than seeing them as battered women, veterans, or teens that escaped abuse.

 A while ago, in the midst of a somewhat busy day I happened to be walking down the drag with nothing but the worries of the day on my mind. There was a neighbor sitting on the stoop of a church, and I was about to completely bypass him, without even noticing that he was there, he yelled to me "MISS!!", and out of my daze I glanced at him with an expression on my face that read "WHAT DO YOU WANT!"...he then flashed his sign and it read "Could you spare a smile?". That day I believe was the lowest day I've had in a long time. I was so engulfed in my own life at the time,  I didn't have a minute to spare for someone else. I didn't think about other peoples needs, or what they are going through, I was selfish in my thoughts, and that is not the person that I am, or who I want to be.

I think that that particular day spurred my interest in the homeless community even more then before. That's when I began volunteering at the Trinity center and committing my time and energy to something bigger than myself. When our group came up with the concept for project H, I was somewhat nonchalant on the outside, but beaming on the inside. Austin is doing so much for the homeless population, but there are so many other things that could be done, if people could simply spare a little time and money. Homelessness will not cease over night, but we can certainly change the community one step at a time.

Also, thank you all who've already contributed to the food drive:)!!!