Sort:  
  • Trending
    • [-]
     8 years ago 

    Thanks Stellabelle. It was a fast move to post this last night, and sometimes the best things come together quickly (although not necessarily perfectly). I so appreciate you running this contest - and thanks for taking a moment to learn about my crazy cooking for hungry human beings.

    I think Steemit has opportunities for everyone and the more energy I spend thinking about bandit signs and putting together webinars to help needy people get up and running on Steemit, the more excited I get.

    Every homeless person has a cell phone - nearly everyone of them.

    This is their literal "lifeline". They typically buy phone card minutes each month to browse the internet.

    Their stories would be amazing - and they would be holding their own advertisement in the form of a bandit sign (which I am figuring out how to provide) with their own personal "follow me" message on it.

    I once took an idea from Simon Sinek and passed it on to people at the bridge. It was an idea for a sign that said..."If you've already donated this month, please consider me next time?" I have passed this simple sentence on to lots of homeless folks over the years, and it has left me wanting to do more.

    I was so intrigued with this idea, that when I read your post last night, I thought - "Why...Steemit truly is a place where something like this would work beautifully in teaching the person to fish. And as a byproduct, attracting a great deal of interesting people - both givers and receivers - into the Steemit platform."

    In the 4 years I have been serving under the bridge, I have found homeless people to be very compassionate and giving individuals...there have been countless moments that have taken my breath away.

    Thanks for the opportunity to share my efforts Stellabelle!

    $0.00
      Reply
      [-]
       8 years ago 

      Teaching people how to make their own money in a sustainable way is better than feeding them food you bought. If we do this, we can get rid of poverty. I believe it is possible. People's minds come alive for maybe the first time since childhood. That is the gift of Steem. It's perhaps too great for most to comprehend. We can do this.

      [-]
       8 years ago 

      I'm already in motion. Your contest has lit a firecracker in my psyche - and after entering your contest, I thought. "hmmm, this is a killer idea. I've been trying to find a way for people to incorporate their signs with their talents. There is no reason why I can't run with this!"

      So, I'm cooking 60lbs of awesome Swedish meatballs along with veggies and all the fixings this Wednesday, and it's a perfect time to begin having conversations and gathering ideas on how to launch this initiative using Steemit.

      This simply adds the "value piece" of educating them so they can supplement whatever meager income they may receive. Many of the people I feed have full time jobs, some even have housing, but not quite enough money left to put food in their kids bellies. (I myself have experienced tough times, so it really hits home with me.)

      They have a story to tell, they have a talent, they have something to offer society - and I've been placed at this intersection of ideas to see if I can put something together. This is truly going to be the coolest thing I have done yet!

      I'm really starting to gain some momentum. I'll keep you posted - and thanks so much for inspiring this line of thinking @stellabelle. I love rabbit holes that lead to someplace fun...don't you?

      $0.00
        Reply