Homeless Man Begs For Help, Thousands Ignore Him

July 7, 2014 - "On the Fourth of July," he said, "I had more donations from non-Americans than from Americans. Poor Mexicans in pickup trucks are more likely to give me a buck than a guy in a new Porsche."

That's what a 59-year old homeless man in Houston, TX said last Monday. Thousands of Americans, many with crosses hanging from their rear view mirrors, pretended they couldn't even see the man. Some gave him dirty looks. The worst: Wealthy people in ultra-expensive cars like BMWs, Mercedes, Porsches, Range Rovers, Cadillacs and Jaguars. Read all about it at The Homeless Patriot........

Even The Pigeons Don't See Me

Voice of the Homeless billboard in Houston
Photo at Glasstire.com

Sept. 15, 2013 - “EVEN THE PIGEONS DON’T SEE ME," says the stark billboard in Downtown Houston, Texas. 

The billboard, which debuted on September 5 along Interstate 45 near Velasco Street, is meant to raise awareness about the homeless, who are badly discriminated against by Houston's city government.

The billboard, reports Paula Newton at Glasstire.com, "is a project by artist Jessica Crute in conjunction with a group show at Deborah Colton Gallery called Collective Identity."

Continued at the Homeless Patriot blog....

54 Ways You Can Help The Homeless

Rabbi Kroloff

This is the best list of suggested ways to help homeless I've run across. I found this list of 35 ways to help the homeless at JustGive.org. It is something we should all be aware of and think about more.

Please share this list: It just might save a life. 

A more detailed version (the original) exists and is also a must-read. JustGive.org acknowledges that the list was reprinted by permission of Rabbi Charles A. Kroloff, author of "54 Ways You Can Help The Homeless." Read that book for free or just go straight to Rabbi Kroloff's list.

OneSight's Vision For The World

The gift of sight is precious indeed, but many people around the world, including North America, do not have access to eye clinics or to needed glasses. In some countries, a pair of eyewear costs more than a month’s salary. 

OneSight has helped more than seven million people on five continents and in hundreds of communities across North America see clearly." A friend of mine is an optometrist in Chicago. His name is Time, and he will travel to India this month to join with others in his profession to help people in a remote area with free eye exams and eye glasses.

Tim and other eye care professionals are trying to raise funds for the trip (see the handy donation widget, left, or go Tim's donation page). "Your support," says OneSight, "helps us deliver clear vision. Ninety-two cents of every dollar you donate goes directly to delivering glasses to those in need."

You can see what OneSight's "Team India" did in February of this year at their blog. Check in after April 15 to see what Tim's group is up to.

More about OneSight:

OneSight, a Luxottica Foundation, is a family of vision care charities dedicated to providing healthy vision, eyewear and sun protection to those in need worldwide. Since 1988, these charitable efforts have provided free vision care and eyewear to more than eight million people and have granted millions of dollars towards optical research and education. Please read more at OneSight.org...

Chicago! Have Some Wine, Shave Your Head and Help Cure Childhood Cancer on Sunday, March 25

vintage338.com

Chicago has a great (and fun) way to fight childhood cancer this Sunday, March 25. The good people of Vintage 338 wine bar are hosting a St. Baldrick's event where volunteers will shave their head to help conquer childhood cancer. You can sign up here for this event, which is open to the public with drink specials that will help benefit St. Baldrick’s!

The St. Baldrick's Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives. For a $5 contribution to St. Baldrick's you too can shave your head during the event, courtesy of Floyd’s 99 Barbershop in Lincoln Park! Did we mention the Complimentary Chili and Mac & Cheese Bar? (Vintage 338 has a great menu!)

Where: Vintage 338
338 W. Armitage Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614 (Map)

Contact: Christopher Barkulis
773-525-0521 or cbarkulis@earthlink.net

Activity Schedule:

• 2:00pm - 6:30pm For a $5 Donation to St. Baldrick's you can get your head shaved courtesy of Jada from Floyd's 99 Barbershop, located at 2572 N. Clark St. in Chicago.
• 2:00pm - 6:30pm $1 off all drinks and $1 donated to St. Baldrick's by Vintage 338 for each purchased drink!
• 2:00pm - 6:30pm $5 off all wine bottles and $5 donated to St. Baldrick's by Vintage 338 for every purchased bottle!
• 2:00pm - Until We Run Out! Free Chili and Mac & Cheese Bar

Not quite ready to shave your head, but would love to help this fantastic charity? No problem. Go to the event page to donate directly to St. Baldrick’s! Also, Vintage 338 is offering up some other great ways to contribute:  $1 Off every glass of wine, beer, or mixed drink purchased and Vintage 338 will donate $1 to the St. Baldrick's Foundation, PLUS All Bottles of Red, White and Sparkling Wine will be $5 off and Vintage 338 will donate $5 per bottle to the St. Baldrick's Foundation.

Doing God's Work In Haiti

December 12, 2010 - Haiti was rocked by violent protests last Wednesday as frustration with last month's election results came to a head. The election results are still being contested, but Haiti has been calm this weekend. Meanwhile, however, a cholera outbreak has been raging since mid-October. More than 2,200 people have died of cholera, and "Haiti is still recovering from the Jan. 12 quake," reports Reuters today, "that killed nearly a quarter of a million Haitians a year ago, and the 1.3 million people made homeless by the disaster are still living in makeshift camps and under tents and tarps in the sprawling capital Port-au-Prince." Despite the horrible conditions and multiple dangers in Haiti, groups from all over the world are hanging tough in their efforts to help the Haitians. One of those groups is Haiti Partners (HP), which is dedicated to providing education to Haitian children. HP provides "10,000 people each year in churches and literacy centers with Bibles and training, in partnership with the Canadian Bible Society." Haiti Partners follows a "sustainable model for education developed by a grassroots organization in a remote area of Haiti. This model has shaped our Partner School strategy. We select schools with strong leadership but lacking in resources. With them, we develop an accord and work plan for supporting them over the course of three years by providing seed capital to create a social enterprise, teacher training, and funds to improve their building." RELATED: Donate to Haiti Partners haitipartners.org Haiti Partners on Facebook

Conservative Blogger, Near Homelessness, Seeks Donations (Update 2)

The following post was originally published on Nov. 27, 2010. Please see the followup post, "Thank You, Thank You, Thank You." November 27, 2010 - I need your help to prevent me from becoming homeless in December. As you can imagine, this is not an easy thing to ask, especially in such a public manner -- but I am left with no choice. (Update, Dec. 20: Money and time are running out yet again. No job prospects for this over-50 guy.)

Like so many Americans, I have been looking for work for about two years but, times being as they are, it's rough. A freelance gig I had in October ended suddenly, leaving me in a very tight spot, my back against the wall, rug pulled out from under me. If you can spare the small cost of a Starbucks ($3.00 to $5.00), please click on the PayPal Button at the top right of this blog to donate easily. You could help me to cover my December rent, keep the lights on, and eat while I continue to job hunt. Time is of the essence and your help is needed now - it takes about 3 or 4 days for PayPal funds to transfer to my bank, and December 6th is when my landlord will come a'knocking. God bless you, and thanks in advance for your help. As I said, I don't I haven't much time - or any choice. I thank you, in advance, from the bottom of my heart for your help. Click the ATM button (top right) to be taken to a PayPal page, where you can safely use a major credit card to donate.

5k-15k "Hot Chocolate" Run, Chicago Lakefront, Nov. 1

Where can you do a charity 5k or 15k run, then enjoy your share of 900 gallons of Hershey's hot chocolate, 200,000 pieces of assorsted Hershey's candy, and 300 gallons of warm chocolate fondue? At Montrose Harbor, on Chicago's north side, that's where. The Illinois Bone & Joint Institute presents the "Hot Chocolate 15k/5k" on Sunday, November 1 starting at 8:00 a.m. for 5k runners and approximately 8:30 a.m. for 15k runners. All runners are asked to line up at 7:30 a.m. and listen for announcements. Both the 5k and 15k runs start and finish at Montrose Harbor, a beautiful park of Lincoln Park, right on the shoreline of Lake Michigan. (download a PDF race area map). The weather is expected to be very much like today's - perfect for a jog through the park. Chicago News Bench took these photos of the race site being prepared on October 31. Conservative Caps, Shirt and more! Leave a Comment - Chicago News Bench RSS Feed Visit us on Twitter!

ChiTown Daily News Writer Responds to Criticism

ALSO SEE: Bizarre Email From Chi-Town Daily News Editor I posted a criticism, this morning, of the way in which ChiTown Daily News has covered the city's health code violations-related closing of the Heartland Cafe, 7000 N. Glenwood in Rogers Park on March 13. One of the major points of my post is that their original story from March 13 has gone missing. As of 1:30 this afternoon, only the headline appears. The writer of all three articles about the closing, Alex Parker, responded by email. I present that to you; my response follows his. Saturday, March 21, 2009 10:18 AM From: "Alex Parker" To: Chicago News Bench Tom, Our coverage of the Heartland Cafe incident is complete and has not disappeared from the Daily News site. The first story is here: http://www.chitowndailynews.org/Chicago_news/Rogers_Park_cafe_closed_after_critical_health_code_violations_found,23735 The second, which includes mention of the 311 call, is here: http://www.chitowndailynews.org/Chicago_news/Heartland_owners_hope_to_open_later_this_week,23849 Our list of donors is here: http://www.chitowndailynews.org/about/supporters Next time you question my integrity, please try to be a little more accurate. Alex Parker My response to Alex Parker: Yes, Mr. Parker, your story has disappeared from ChiTown Daily's website. It's still not there, as of 1:30 this afternoon. I have not said that you deleted it. Perhaps it was a weird mistake by your web master. Perhaps an editor deleted the text. In any case, the link you provided (which is the same link I provided in my post this morning), brings up the headline but not the story text. Your coverage is not "complete." Who is the woman who became sick? There is no mention of the fact that the ice machine was leased or the name of the company it was leased from, the "fired" exterminator is not named, no mention of the fact that rodents easily chew through caulk, and no mention of whether or not required building permits for replacing the floors and possibly other work done were prominently displayed. You do not mention the multiple health code violations that the Heartland Cafe has incurred over the past seven years. You do not mention their multiple liquor license violations either. You are correct, however, that I erred in saying that there was no mention of the poisoned woman who called 311. I have corrected that in my original post. As for your donors, I stand by that information. Next time you defend your integrity, please try to be a little more accurate. RELATED: Heartland Cafe search on Chicago News Bench Where is Heartland Cafe's Building Permit? The Audacity of Heartland Cafe's Arrogance SDS and the Heartland Cafe Owners Heartland Cafe's Inconvenient Truths Analysis: Systemic Filth at Heartland Cafe, Rogers Park Heartland Cafe Blames City for Health Code Violations Comments at Yelp When Permits Are Needed (Chicago DOB) Building Permits in 49th Ward Heartland Cafe Survivor Wear Chicago News Bench RSS Feed Cool Stuff...

Update 2X: Missing Story at Chi-Town Daily News

UPDATED 2X: ChiTown Daily News Writer Responds to Criticism ALSO SEE: Bizarre Email From Chi-Town Daily News Editor ----------------- On Friday, March 13 the Chicago neighborhood of Rogers Park was not-so-surprised to see a big green "License Suspended" on the front door of the Heartland Cafe, 7000 N. Glenwood Avenue. ChiTown Daily News ran a story by Alex Parker that same day with the title "Rogers Park cafe closed after "critical" health code violations found," which had this passage in it: Chicago health inspectors found rodent feces, food kept at unsafe temperatures and mold in a Rogers Park restaurant today. Heartland Cafe was ordered to close and faces $1,500 in fines. The source for that passage? Not the ChiTown Daily News, although that's where it first appeared in a story that has been removed from their website. As of 2:00 a.m., March 21, only the headline remained although the story's text is mysteriously gone. (The source for the above quoted passage is here.) Since then, ChiTown Daily News has had two more articles, making three in breathless succession by Parker about the Heartland Cafe. The two after the now-missing article are both glowing and upbeat, in sharp contrast to the March 13 article. On March 17, an optimistic story/public relations fluff piece titled "Heartland owners hope to open later this week," in which there is no mention of the woman who called 311 on March 12 and complained that she'd gotten food poisoning at the Heartland. Parker wrote this: "They've removed the ice machine and caulked the stage to prevent rodents from entering. James says the concrete floor has been replaced, and they fired their exterminator, hiring a new one." There is no mention of the fact that the ice machine was leased or the name of the company it was leased from, the "fired" exterminator is not named, no mention of the fact that rodents easily chew through caulk, and no mention of required building permits for replacing the floors and possibly other work done. On March 20, another fluffy happy piece titled "Heartland Cafe reopens after passing health inspection." Again, no There is mention this time of the woman who called 311. Although both articles, March 17 and 20, do mention the critical health code violations, but both read like uncomfortably like public relations spin pieces. Why did the March 13 story suddenly disappear? It's not the standard practice over there to delete stories only a week after they break, and certainly not while there is still a lot of traffic yet to be had. Some examples of similar stories by Alex Parker at ChiTown Daily News that are well over a week old but still up on ChiTown Daily News' website: City inspectors closing more restaurants for health violations (Feb 26, 2009) Health inspectors close Near West Side restaurant after finding cockroaches (Feb 19, 2009) Einstein Brothers remains closed after failing health inspection (Feb 17, 2009) Two restaurants closed after health violations (Feb 16, 2009) So why the rush to delete the March 13 Heartland story? By the way, why no rush to follow up on the Einstein Brothers story? Very strange. At the bottom of their website, it is duly noted that "The Daily News is a 501(c)(3) public charity." A 501(c)(3) is a federally tax exempt corporation. They survive by taking grant money; The Knight Foundation is their primary sponsor, with grants totalling $435,000 to "Chi-Town Daily News/PublicMedia, Inc." The IRS, however, shows no listing that we could find for any charities called "Daily News," "ChiTown Daily News," "Public Media" or "PublicMedia." This does not necessarily mean that they aren't properly registered; it just means that the IRS website seems unaware of them. Perhaps the IRS listing went the way of that March 13 article about the Heartland Cafe. UPDATE: We were finally able to find "publicmedia" on the IRS charity listings here. The dependence on grant money means that ChiTown Daily News' independence is fair game for speculation. That is particularly so when you take this into account: The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation (also known as the Knight Foundation), is a major supporter of seemingly "independent" media projects, and was created in 1940 with monies generated from the Akron Beacon Journal. Since 2005, the president and CEO of the foundation has been Alberto Ibarguen, the former publisher of The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald. Ibarguen maintains impressive democracy-manipulating credentials, as he is a US member of the imperialist Inter-American Dialogue, board member of the CIA-linked Council on Foreign Relations, and has held high-level appointments within a number of media-manipulating groups like the Freedom Forum's Newseum, and the Inter American Press Association. Ibarguen, however, is a board member of the newly formed and ostensibly progressive investigative journalism project, Pro Publica -- for a critique of this organization's work see "Investigating the Investigators: A Critical Look at Pro Publica." (Source: Media Blunders) Next time you read the ChiTown Daily News, question where the Heartland Cafe story of March 13 disappeared to, then wonder about the puppet masters' strings attached to the huge amounts of grant money they take. RELATED: Alex Constantine's Blacklist: Duncan & Blake "Suicides" Solved ... Steiger serves as chairman of the Knight Foundation-supported Committee to Protect Journalists and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. ... In 1999 was elected to the Pulitzer Prize board. .. " ...... And Hunt does detail in the book how the CIA was engaged in many clandestine operations of covert front groups and foundations using media manipulation and propaganda to project American imperial power and hegemony throughout the world. ... VDARE.com: 12/04/04 - Pity the poor Founding Fathers - When I questioned Larry "Bud" Meyer, Knight’s Vice President of Communications about why Knight would fund these radical left-wing groups, he made it clear he wasn’t fond of my inquiry....In total, the Knight Foundation will fund seven immigration related projects for an aggregate of $13.5 million. Knight calls its largess "Immigration Integration Investment."....The foundation apparently thinks that illegal aliens and those who lobby on their behalf deserve special treatment. (See the 2003 Knight Foundation annual report for proof: 2003 annual report.) Knight Foundation Grants Prompt Debate - Philanthropy.com Follow the Money Chicago News Bench RSS Feed Cool Stuff...

Pillaging the Boys and Girls Clubs

The top executive of the "non-profit" Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) is paid nearly a million dollars a year. Roxanne Spillett's compensation for doing "charity work" is listed at $972,908. [Source: CharityReports.bbb.org]

Does that sound like a "non-profit" to you?

Or does it sound like a big, huge organization trying to fatten itself up?

It stinks. Spillett's salary was just under $600,000 a year and a half ago. She is something of a star in the charity world for have such a large salary, and a salary that grows rapidly every year.

Now consider this: The BGCA's finances are not in the best of shape. Considering that, shouldn't Ms. Spillett be charitable and reduce her own salary? After all, that's something the likes of Jan Schakowsky, Heather Steans, Joe Moore and Jim Ginderske and others would call for - if Ms. Spillett was an oil company executive. But because she works for a "non-profit," it is acceptable to the likes of Ginderske for the likes of Spillet to take a huge personal ever-growing windfall profit.

"It's for the kids" is just a cynical advertising phrase for a "non-profit" whose top executives are apparently profiting quite nicely.

This report by Bill Treanor, October 2007, sums it up well:

The Capitol Hill-financed juggernaut that has been the Boys & Girls Clubs of America for over two decades has stalled in the fast lane of national politics. As of late September, the BGCA was scheduled to receive from Congress $60 million in fiscal 2008, no small sum by any reckoning. But that’s down from its peak of $85 million in fiscal 2006. Last fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, the group that claims over 4.8 million youth served through 4,100 clubs received $70 million from the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP). FULL ARTICLE at Youth Today...

So, BGCA's federal funding is down, and down significantly. Has that stopped Spillett from siphoning more and more money from BGCA into her own purse? Nope.

And here is where we may begin to understand the sudden, hyper-enthusiastic support that the Ginderske-Moore hydra has shown for BGCA. Moore and Ginderske, politicians both, are creatures in constant search for future political campaign donors. They're very eager to scratch Ms. Spillett's back for now. They will probably expect something in return from Spillet & Company down the road.

Salvation Army Kettle Campaign Up, Down

Mixed results -and reports - about the Salvation Army's Kettle Campaign to raise money. The campaign ends January 30, 2008. You can still donate. Learn more about the Salvation Army. Salvation Army sets holiday donation record - Lynchburg News and Advance, VA - Jan 5, 2008 - Vohden attributed the success of the Red Kettle drive to the generosity of area residents, as well as the reputation of the Salvation Army. Will donations fall short - Joliet Herald News, IL - Both counties participate in the Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign, where people stand out front of participating stores ringing bells...

Democrats Accidentally Raise Money For Children

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh raised $2.1 million for children of fallen Marines and law enforcement officers on Friday by auctioning off a letter from Senate Democrats denouncing him for a remark about "phony soldiers. "The letter, signed by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and 40 fellow Senate Democrats, expressed outrage over what they described as Limbaugh's "characterization of troops who oppose the (Iraq) war as 'phony soldiers'." Full Story... That Rush Limbaugh guy sure is evil.

Comics For a Cure

Comics For a Cure Laughter truly is the best medicine! Come join us for an adult night of comedy! Featuring: Brian Hicks, Brian Kanner, Mike Palacek , Tony Talley Friday, June 15, 2007 at 8:00 p.m. Edison Park Inn - 6715 N. Olmstead, on Chicago’s Northwest Side To benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Great Strides Donation $20.00

21 and older

Two-drink Minimum For reservations contact Tony at 773-327-3687