ChosenFast.com

Mark Horvath, InvisiblePeople.tv

Mark is coming to Greensboro! Local sponsors and media welcome! Click here.

Media release:

… [Mark] Horvath will visit over 25 cities across the nation in order to help bring understanding and knowledge to the growing homeless crisis. Because he knows homelessness does not discriminate, Horvath will visit a mix of rural areas, larger cities, shelters and youth facilities to bring a voice to the voiceless through the power of social media. Personal stories of those who are homeless will be posted on Horvath’s vlog, YouTube and Vimeo, and through social networks including Twitter and Facebook. In addition, he will share stories in real-time on Whrrl as he visits these communities.

Read more on Using the power of social media to help the homeless…

The Myrtle Beach City Council has placed serious restrictions on group that feed the homeless in city (public) parks.  Church groups are currently feeding the homeless and hungry in obedience to their faith — weekly in one park and monthly in another.  A new ordinance will require them to obtain a permit and restrict feedings to four times per year.  The ordinance is a response to  neighbors’ complaints, such as perceived safety issues for children  in the park, and crimes alleged to have been committed by some of the homeless people in the parks.  But those who serve the homeless point out that children are among those being fed (children and families are homeless, too), and that homeless people will be in the parks whether meals are served or not.

Read more on Myrtle Beach restricts church groups from feeding homeless people in public parks…

On Friday night, May 15th, hundreds of area youth are expected to sleep outside at Grace Community Church on Lee Street to raise awareness of homelessness, in an event sponsored by New Jerusalem Cathedral (see video). They will sleep in safety, protected by Greensboro police officers, on the same grounds that church leaders voted to post with “no trespassing” signs last year, in response to large numbers of homeless people sleeping on the property.  Irony.   (Grace also housed dozens of women inside this year, in a winter emergency shelter.)

Read more on Awareness-raising teens to sleep outside where homeless can’t…

» go to News14.com story with video: “Drive aims to provide items to homeless“

AmeriCorps members from the Partnership to End Homelessness are doing a Non-Food Drive to benefit homeless people in Greensboro, as part of  National AmeriCorps Week’s “AmeriCorps Drives for Service.”

Read more on Non-food drive to benefit homeless in Greensboro…

Photo credit: Mark Horvath

“Hardly Normal at Prado Day Center,” a story in photos and words.

“The Prado Day Center is the only day center serving the homeless population in the region.  Every day, between 90 to 120 people seek refuge and assistance at the Center. Over 30 percent of the Center’s participants are now women and children…”

» See the photo story here

Read more on “Children should never be homeless…”…

[Show as slideshow]

Joseph’s Gear is a new clothing resale store near downtown Greensboro, selling new and gently used trendy, brand-name clothing at amazingly low prices — to benefit homeless young adults! The store opens to the public on Monday, March 16th, 2009.   Joseph’s Gear will serve as a hands-on learning program and provide financial support for Joseph’s House, which offers shelter, food, clothing, and other supportive services to homeless young adults in Guilford County, assisting them to become self sufficient.

Read more on Shop at Joseph’s Gear and help homeless young adults…

1 in 50 American kids homeless each year; NC ranks 7th worst state for child homelessness; wow; more here: http://tinyurl.com/b8sgd6

overheard: GCS rep says 1000+ homeless kids in High Point schools; official 2009 count says only 215 homeless kids in entire county; ???

I saw one of our homeless lady friends at breakfast this morning.  She sleeps outside.  I noticed right away that she looked really peaceful and beautiful this morning.  She struggles with addiction, and that battle is usually evident in her appearance.  But not today.  I went to hug her and tell her how pretty she looked.  She told me that she woke up at about 3:00 a.m. and felt like she needed to read the Word.

Read more on God speaks to my homeless friend in the quiet of the night…

[video link]

“Jesus Is A Friend Of Mine” is an 80’s Christian ska (yep, Jamaican rock/reggae) song performed by a Donny Osmond lookalike and some other uber-white people, whose super-sweet clothes and hairstyles take me back to my Southern Baptist youth.  Only, my church didn’t rock like this.

Read more on Christian ska: Jesus is a friend of mine (wow!)…

Vegetable crates and construction materials are stacked behind the recycling and trash cans beside the back porch at the HIVE. The basketball court is just a few feet away. Sometime this weekend, some of the neighborhood kids came by to play basketball, and noticed some long, thin PVC pipes lying along the back wall in this area.

Read more on From mayhem to redemption…

I did Run for Shelter today, but I walked it.  It was a five mile run/walk to raise money for Partnering to End Chronic Homelessness in Guilford County, and it was sponsored by Temple Emanuel.  I walked with my friends Travis and Tony, and their neighbor.  Temple member Marcy, who’s one of my “Ganache girls,” was one of the event organizers.  (Check out my photos below to see who else was there.)

Read more on Photos: Run, or walk, for shelter…