Today we’d like to introduce you to Sherri McCoy.
Hi Sherri, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Our organization Blessing Bags of Warmth was originally started by my, then, 8 year old daughter Rose.
She and I have for years done things to aid our unhoused neighbors around the community such as provide food, clothing and other small basic necessities. Thanksgiving 2020 we did as we’d often done and took meals down to a nearby encampment.
However on this particular day Rose saw just how great the need was when several people inquired as to if we had blankets to help them stay warm. With tears in her eyes she asked if we could possibly go and get more blankets to help.
Taking the money that we had received for Christmas we packed the very first blessing bags. Each contained a warm blanket or sleeping bag, personal hygiene items, PPEs, and enough shelf stable food for 3 days. We returned to the original encampment and a few others and all bags were handed out in a matter of hours.
Rose noticed that there were several people that did not either take a bag because they wanted someone else to have it, or receive one
because we had run out. Rose then ask would it be possible for us to make more.
My first thought was the fact that we’d run out of money however I reached out to friends and family via social media for assistance and after raising $200 we were able to make more!
Rose, with a huge smile on her face, said “It’s like we’re handing out little bags of warmth to people that need it!!” She then said she wanted to continue to make the bags and help the people. Thus Blessing Bags of Warmth was born!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely has not been a smooth road, however we know that it is the roads least taken that lead to the greatest rewards!
In the very beginning friends, family and community members were willing to help however after a short period of time that help began to taper off. Originally I was concerned that Roses’ little organization would not be able to continue.
We ourselves are on a limited income, and reside with family. There were some weekends that we only had $20 available to spend on helping. We are fortunate that there are local food pantries where we can gather food to prepare so we continued to help the best we could. People were always grateful for whatever we brought.
We also lost our main mode of transportation, and with no savings to purchase a new vehicle or even repair the original vehicle there was about a month when our ability to help was limited.
We were fortunate that we did have the occasional use of a family members vehicle. When we did not have this option, our desire to help still burned strong and we did the best we could even delivering meals to a local Free99Fridge via Uber.
However, there were brighter days ahead and we received a van generously donated by the Kemper Westbrook family and we have continued to press on!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Our focus is to remain an active and visual resource in the community, a beacon of hope if you will, which acts as a go between larger organizations and those in need.
Often times, we have found that open and frank conversation leads to an understanding of the root cause of deprivation for an individual and therefore the ability to connect the person with available support.
We are most proud that although our organization is only made up of my daughter and myself as well as a few friends, family members and dedicated volunteers we have already been able to serve more than 4,000 individuals!
We have been instrumental in linking multiple people with larger organizations that have assisted in finding housing, medical assistance and more.
Most recently we assisted a young mother who was homeless with three child. We fundraised the money she needed to move into an apartment. We also linked her with a larger organization that assisted her in receiving furniture, food, and clothing.
It is our hope not to be set apart from other organizations that do similar work however it is our desire to work with these organizations toward our common goal, eradicating homelessness.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I absolutely love how our communities can come together for one another. A bulk of our fundraising is done via Facebook groups and it just amazes me how a perfect stranger is willing to show love and compassion for one of their unknown neighbors by donating either money or needed items such as clothing and food.
Unfortunately it is the fact that this is a need that I like least. Living in one of the largest cities in our country it is hard to fathom that there are thousands of people who are forced to live on the street when there’s so much wealth surrounding them.
An example is a beautiful church that is being renovated and turned into housing. A giant wooden board in front of the construction advertising properties will be available starting at $600K!!! The other day I passed by this property and sleeping beneath the sign was one of our unhoused. It’s almost like a slap in the face to know that this person in desperate need of housing can be less than a stone’s throw away from property that was once used as a shelter and is now being sold for more than a half million dollars.
Contact Info:
- Email: blessingbagsofwarmth@gmail.com
- Website: www.blessingbagsofwarmth.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlessingBagsOfWarmth
