Activism - Past, Present & Future

[Stearns]

Originally Posted by jenny

Hey there...

Are we talking here about activism as it relates to queer issues, or any sort of issues? I myself am a big believer of "do something," and along with my dad and several of his friends, I take a very active role in a charity we've formed. We collect furniture and housewares from people who are downsizing or who no longer need their stuff, and we use it to completely outfit apartments for underprivileged people who are obtaining housing through recognized social service agencies in our area. Many of our clients are formerly battered women and their children, AIDS patients, former drug addicts, formerly homeless people and the like.

Making a tangible difference in the lives of these people has, quite literally, changed the lives of all of us who take an active role in our charity. Several of the families we've worked with have become close friends, and now help out with our efforts as a way of "giving back." To me, there's nothing like the feeling I get from knowing that a little kid who was sleeping on a pile of clothes last night will be sleeping in his own bed tonight. Yes, it's hard, sweaty, often frustrating work, but it is oh so very worth it.

Any kind of activism at all, Jenny. That's really something that you, your dad and his friends actually formed a charity. I know you don't do it for admiration or accolades, but please allow me to say that I think what you're doing is wonderful. For people to give of themselves like this is really awesome.

[dixie]

Hmmm...does this count as activism?

I am working on a project to bring more domestic violence awareness to the gay/lesbian/trans communities. I will be doing events such as pride fests and rallies throughout NC. I have also been asked to join a state caucus to change legislature pertaining to these issues, including more updated and fitting dv protective orders (these orders at the moment are very lacking). There is so much to do and so many people to reach. I am thankful for this opportunity that has been given to me...

[jenny]

Originally Posted by Stearns

Any kind of activism at all, Jenny. That's really something that you, your dad and his friends actually formed a charity. I know you don't do it for admiration or accolades, but please allow me to say that I think what you're doing is wonderful. For people to give of themselves like this is really awesome.

Thanks for your kind words. Personally, I think that most people have the ability to do something -- and the desire as well. Unfortunately, there's a lot of people out there who simply don't know how to get started, or where their particular talents could be utilized.

For my dad and me, the idea for our organization kind of fell in our laps. I was perusing FreeCycle one day, and found a post by a woman who needed furniture for herself and her two kids. To make a long story short, I had a few things I was looking to pass on, as did my dad, so I contacted this woman and found that she and her kids had escaped an abusive husband/father, and were living in a friend's basement, with no furniture at all. One thing led to another, and we ended up furnishing their whole "apartment" with things donated by members of my dad's church.

Prior to that day, we'd never really considered this sort of need before, but once we thought about it, it was glaringly obvious that there were likely tons of people in this woman's shoes. We contacted a local social service agency, and found that while they provide housing for people coming through the system, they don't provide furniture or housewares, so there are an awful lot of people living in apartments with no beds, no dishes, no pots and pans, no sofas...

Anyway, I think most charities start as a way to fill a need, and that's certainly how it worked for us. We had no idea it would become, in just a few short years, a six day a week venture, but here we are -- as we like to say, doing well by doing good.