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2BadSoSad
LIF Adult
Member since 8/12 6791 total posts
Name:
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Eye opener this weekend
So this weekend, my son and I went out with our church for the monthly homeless outreach. This is a new church for us, and the first time we went. To be honest, we went obviously to help, but since this was a new awesome smaller non-denominational christian church where everyone seemed like family and knew everyone, I also did it to meet people at the church. I got more out of it than I intended/thought I would. Ive been thinking about it all weekend.
All that volunteered made a tray of food and then we divided it up into individual food tins of hot meals. This was my sons job.
After that was done, we headed down to the Patchogue area and 2 other stops within 15 minutes all on Montauk Hwy.
The homeless know at a certain time every saturday churches work together and show up and set up food, hot meals, bread, snacks, dry goods, drinks and they can take whatever they need, each is given a shopping bag to fill. Still some were so humble and didn't want to "take too much" and we had to insist they take more. Can you imagine not knowing where your next meal is coming from and still being humble enough to not want to take too much. Talk about eye opening.
Some sat down immediately and devoured their meal bc they were so hungry, brought tears to my eyes.
Anyway, my son (who is 8) handed out hot meals with the other people there to the homeless.
The line guys, the lines were SO long of people waiting for what can be their only hot meal for the week. I couldn't believe it. A lot of these people live in the woods, IN THE WOODS. We sat at talked to a lot of them and they were good people, who told us about how they fell on hard times or what went wrong. One women gave up her son to foster care, just so he could continue to go to school bc she couldn't afford to give him a stable life. She was so proud of him, she said he just graduated with honors and was going to college.
It was so humbling and eye opening....I mean I knew there were homeless people but to see HOW MANY hungry people lined up for a hot meal. LINES at all the stops. Heartbreaking.
My son and I were so humbled. It was so good for him too and he has been talking about it all weekend, really opened his eyes. I was on the fence about bringing him but glad I did.
Anyway, the point was, I know we all have the preconceived notions of the homeless, and Im sure some of them are true, but the people we met were SO grateful. They hugged us, told us they appreciated it more than we would know and wouldn't know what they would do without us every weekend. We plan on going every month now and I suggest if you have a way, to do it also, its really life changing and makes you grateful for all the things you do have that you take for granted....especially went for my son.
Message edited 5/22/2016 10:20:04 PM.
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Posted 5/22/16 9:30 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
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renee92405
I finally hit 1000! woo hoo!
Member since 1/06 2294 total posts
Name:
Renee
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Eye opener this weekend
Wow. This actually made me cry.
Thank you for doing what you do.
I do plan on taking my daughter in the near future to something like this.
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| Posted 5/22/16 9:47 PM |
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MsSissy
xoxoxo
Member since 3/07 39159 total posts
Name:
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Re: Eye opener this weekend
I use to volunteer on Monday nights doing this at the church here in my neighborhood.
Unfortunately my schedule doesn't allow me to do it anymore.
They would feed over 250 people.
We would set up tables like a restaurant. Have flowers on the tables. Serve them their dishes and drinks. And sometimes a musician would volunteer and either sing or play the piano. Every single one of them appreciated it. Always said thank you.
It's very humbling.
Very wonderful thing you did.
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| Posted 5/22/16 10:09 PM |
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LIRascal
drama. daily.
Member since 3/11 7287 total posts
Name:
Michelle
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Re: Eye opener this weekend
 I can't even imagine. It's wonderful how you brought your son to help. I think we all need to experience this at some point.
My students used to tell me about homeless camps in the woods. Wow. 
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| Posted 5/22/16 10:52 PM |
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Michmouse
LIF Adult
Member since 11/07 1260 total posts
Name:
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Re: Eye opener this weekend
Wow....I am very moved by your experience. Right here on LI so many people are in need of help.
Would you please message me the information about the church you attend? I was divorced last year and have felt uncomfortable about going back to the church I attended with my X. I would very much like to get connected at a new church and help in this ministry....and I also have an eight year old.
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| Posted 5/23/16 12:06 AM |
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hmm
Sweet
Member since 1/14 8016 total posts
Name:
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Eye opener this weekend
Beautiful, I work with people in shelters and many people have some of the same feelings and preconceived ideas.
Its wonderful what you did today, and EVEN more important you brought your 8 yr old to help, You didn't feel the need to hide him from what life is like for SOME many on Long island
My family use to bring fresh fruit, bags of clementines etc to the soup kitchen.
Message edited 5/23/2016 12:23:01 AM.
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| Posted 5/23/16 12:22 AM |
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JennP
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 3986 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Re: Eye opener this weekend
I was literally just thinking of how I can volunteer this summer and this post made me sign up for orientation with Long Island Cares. Thanks for the reminder!
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| Posted 5/23/16 9:25 AM |
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Jennifer
Happy
Member since 5/05 4230 total posts
Name:
.
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Re: Eye opener this weekend
Heartbreaking.
If you ever see the movie "where God left his shoes" with John Leguizamo, it shows you about a family who becomes homeless. It will change your view on homeless people.
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| Posted 5/23/16 9:34 AM |
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2BadSoSad
LIF Adult
Member since 8/12 6791 total posts
Name:
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Re: Eye opener this weekend
Posted by JennP
I was literally just thinking of how I can volunteer this summer and this post made me sign up for orientation with Long Island Cares. Thanks for the reminder!
thats awesome!
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| Posted 5/23/16 9:45 AM |
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2BadSoSad
LIF Adult
Member since 8/12 6791 total posts
Name:
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Re: Eye opener this weekend
Posted by Michmouse
Wow....I am very moved by your experience. Right here on LI so many people are in need of help.
Would you please message me the information about the church you attend? I was divorced last year and have felt uncomfortable about going back to the church I attended with my X. I would very much like to get connected at a new church and help in this ministry....and I also have an eight year old.
just did.
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| Posted 5/23/16 9:46 AM |
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Paramount
Sweet!
Member since 7/12 4289 total posts
Name:
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Re: Eye opener this weekend
I have seen a lot of stories like this. Because of it I don't have any preconceived notions about the homeless.
Very sad. And makes you so grateful for what you have.
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| Posted 5/23/16 11:31 AM |
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SecretlyTTC14
LIF Adult
Member since 12/13 1770 total posts
Name:
B
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Re: Eye opener this weekend
Posted by 2BadSoSad
Posted by Michmouse
Wow....I am very moved by your experience. Right here on LI so many people are in need of help.
Would you please message me the information about the church you attend? I was divorced last year and have felt uncomfortable about going back to the church I attended with my X. I would very much like to get connected at a new church and help in this ministry....and I also have an eight year old.
just did.
Can you also FM me the info? I attend a church but they don't do much locally. Their programs mostly consist of international christian outreach.
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| Posted 5/23/16 11:36 AM |
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2BadSoSad
LIF Adult
Member since 8/12 6791 total posts
Name:
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Re: Eye opener this weekend
Posted by SecretlyTTC14
Posted by 2BadSoSad
Posted by Michmouse
Wow....I am very moved by your experience. Right here on LI so many people are in need of help.
Would you please message me the information about the church you attend? I was divorced last year and have felt uncomfortable about going back to the church I attended with my X. I would very much like to get connected at a new church and help in this ministry....and I also have an eight year old.
just did.
Can you also FM me the info? I attend a church but they don't do much locally. Their programs mostly consist of international christian outreach.
Just did, they have a bunch of community programs.
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| Posted 5/23/16 12:25 PM |
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shaleywhale
LIF Adolescent
Member since 12/09 537 total posts
Name:
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Re: Eye opener this weekend
Posted by Jennifer
Heartbreaking.
If you ever see the movie "where God left his shoes" with John Leguizamo, it shows you about a family who becomes homeless. It will change your view on homeless people.
Is this movie appropriate for a 12-ish year old girl to see?
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| Posted 5/23/16 1:03 PM |
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WannaBeAMom11
LIF Adult
Member since 1/11 7391 total posts
Name:
Name
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Eye opener this weekend
Can you send me the info please. My church only does it during working hours and I would love to do this especially more so as dd gets older. There is such a stigma against homelessness and many don't realize how bad it is on Long Island. Do you have to join your church to volunteer? I'm not very religious.
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| Posted 5/23/16 4:37 PM |
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2BadSoSad
LIF Adult
Member since 8/12 6791 total posts
Name:
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Re: Eye opener this weekend
Posted by WannaBeAMom11
Can you send me the info please. My church only does it during working hours and I would love to do this especially more so as dd gets older. There is such a stigma against homelessness and many don't realize how bad it is on Long Island. Do you have to join your church to volunteer? I'm not very religious.
You do, its part of the church ministry groups.
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| Posted 5/23/16 4:57 PM |
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gina409
TWINS!
Member since 12/09 27635 total posts
Name:
g
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Re: Eye opener this weekend
How heartbreaking
What a amazing thing you are doing
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| Posted 5/23/16 9:26 PM |
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Leb
LIF Adult
Member since 12/09 4166 total posts
Name:
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Eye opener this weekend
So great you're doing this. When I was younger I did similar things through my church. I can remember making up Easter baskets for the kids but instead of candy (some candy too) they had toothbrushes and mini shampoo bottles. I have so many memories that stuck with me. I can't wait to do with my daughter when she's older.
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| Posted 5/23/16 9:33 PM |
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MrsT809
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 12167 total posts
Name:
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Eye opener this weekend
Emanuel Lutheran in Patchogue does a soup kitchen every Saturday. They also collect bash lunches to send everyone home with so that's another way you can participate. I'm getting a group of friends and our 4yos together to do the bag lunches at my house and then I'll drop them on a Saturday morning. If anyone is interested,fm me and I can give the info for the contact person for that.
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| Posted 5/24/16 9:44 AM |
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2BadSoSad
LIF Adult
Member since 8/12 6791 total posts
Name:
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Re: Eye opener this weekend
Posted by MrsT809
Emanuel Lutheran in Patchogue does a soup kitchen every Saturday. They also collect bash lunches to send everyone home with so that's another way you can participate. I'm getting a group of friends and our 4yos together to do the bag lunches at my house and then I'll drop them on a Saturday morning. If anyone is interested,fm me and I can give the info for the contact person for that.
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| Posted 5/24/16 11:23 AM |
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