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Months earlier than the pandemic struck, Bethany and her mom, Colleen Moultry, have been operating errands after they noticed a homeless individual holding up an indication asking for assist.
“I wanted to crack open my piggy bank and give them all my money,” Bethany advised CNN.
That’s when Bethany and her mom got here up with the concept to create care packages to present to the homeless.
But when Covid-19 hit, the undertaking was briefly placed on maintain — till Moultry requested Bethany what she needed for her birthday in August.
“A child that is just about to turn six is saying they want to help people,” Moultry advised CNN. “I felt like I had to give her an avenue to do that. It is not every day that you hear anybody saying that, adults or children.”
“We have talked to the homeless authority, homeless shelters and people on the street to make sure what we are putting in the bags is what they actually need,” Moultry stated.
Each bag incorporates a handwritten word from Bethany in addition to important gadgets homeless individuals want reminiscent of beef sticks, first assist, toiletries, masks, Gatorade and extra.
Community comes by means of with donations
Things actually began taking off in October, after a publish on the “Pantsuit Nation” Facebook web page — asking for donations for the undertaking — went viral, garnering over 62,000 likes.
“In just one day, we had 85 packages on our doorstep,” Moultry stated. “I would say 95% of that stuff is already back out with the people that need it. That is how quickly we were able to turn it around.”
Happy Bags’ attain has additionally made it onto politicians’ radars.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo not too long ago acknowledged the work Bethany is doing, referencing her efforts in the state’s day by day Coronavirus Updates publication.
Students volunteer as Happy Bags helpers
With fixed donations flowing in, Moultry enlisted assist from college students at Bethany’s brother’s college, Matthew Reardon School for Autism.
Jack O’Connor, director of Matthew Reardon School for Autism, stated that the college reworked its lunchroom into an meeting line to assist with packing the baggage and writing notes for homeless individuals.
“We have been kind of stuck in our little bubble since Covid,” O’Connor advised CNN. “Getting out of the classroom and doing hands-on things can be really motivating.”
Before the pandemic, the college students would take area journeys to study completely different job expertise. O’Connor stated that helping with Happy Bags has been a “great opportunity” for the college students to contribute to such an “important need in the community especially at this time.”
Moultry stated she has been grateful to have assist, and loved getting extra individuals concerned in the initiative.
In only a few months, the Moultrys have distributed over 750 completely happy baggage.
Bethany is ‘inspiring individuals throughout the nation’
Although most of the direct distribution to homeless individuals is finished by means of native organizations, Bethany’s favourite a part of Happy Bags has been handing out baggage herself and seeing the happiness on individuals’s faces.
Moultry stated she plans to proceed increasing the undertaking past the Savannah group and needs to assist Bethany pursue her different ardour for helping youngsters who’re experiencing homelessness.
The two have already began working towards this objective — thus far, they’ve given not less than 80 blankets to native homeless youngsters shelters from the donations they’ve acquired.
“It is about seeing the amount of people she (Bethany) has touched whether she realizes it or not,” stated Moultry. “Bethany is the little happy bag spark that has created little sparks and fires other places, inspiring people all over the country to help people in their communities as well.”
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