My Experience With PassionWorks by Scott Miller (Staff Photographer)

Re-posted here from JerseyShoreTog (Scott Miller – PassionWorks Staff Photographer) blog post (click here to see photos):

Passion Works is an amazing company that helps our LOCAL down on their luck homeless people. 100% of ALL of the donations they receive go to the homeless, no one takes a penny as a paycheck of any kind. You donations whether they be monetary, cell phones, food or clothes are ESSENTIAL to help these people who  are HUMAN just like you or I and for Passion Works to continue their charity work.

Chuck (Executive Director, PassionWorks, Inc.) and I have known each other for awhile now and get along very well together and we appreciate what each of us do. That being said I have donated my time and photography to Passion Works so I am now the staff photographer for Chuck and Passion Works. Chuck asked me if I would like to join him for a trip to tent city in Lakewood last Sunday. I wanted to see for myself what these poor people are going through. It was a very humbling experience to see people just like YOU AND ME that have fallen on hard times with losing their jobs, lack of work, losing their homes to foreclosure and more in addition to their cars. I can’t imagine how these people must feel being forced into this situation in many cases due to our horrible economy.

Below I’m posting photos of what I saw, most people and or faces are were not photographed to protect their privacy. As much as many believe these are still HUMANS that have rights and deserve their privacy just like us. If these photos don’t pull on your heart strings and make you want to help Passion Works with their mission you truly must be heartless. Think to yourself if you lost your job, car and home. What would you do with no one to turn to, no outside family members for help. How would you feed your children? How would you put a protective roof over their heads. As proud locals we NEED to help our own LOCAL people in need.

Please follow Passion Works on Twitter @PassionWorks, “like” and follow their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/PassionWorksUSA And their own website: http://www.passionworksusa.org/ Most of all PLEASE make donations, an old cell phone, an old car, food, clothes, $5, $10, anything you can give will help WAY MORE than you realize.

Spreading this blog post around would be a huge help, we ask you to do this as a favor…. Thank you, Scott

Change Is Cheap

Most folks think talk is cheap. At PassionWorks, we think change is cheap. In fact, it’s just a buck. Yep, $1 will create positive change. That’s the point behind our new Buck-It campaign.

Donating just $1 per month, PassionWorks supporters can be on the leading edge of change and positive impact in Ocean and Monmouth Counties. It starts with you, the person reading this post, committing to donate $1 per month. PassionWorks then uses those $1 donations to clothe, feed and care for those most in need right in our own communities.

You’d be surprised just how far $1 can go. It can provide a sandwich to a hungry woman. It can provide toiletries to a recently homeless couple. It can help provide support to those people who may not have or get any other support from any other source.

So, yes it’s just a buck. But for someone whose hungry, homeless or in desperate need, it can make a huge difference.

Are you ready to begin making a huge difference? Sign up for the Buck-It campaign now and have an impact today. As it turns out, change is surprisingly cheap.

What Lies Ahead For Local Folks In Need?

Back to school season also means that hunger and homeless needs will be on the rise locally.

The turning of the leaves and shortening of days leads to higher energy bills, more expenses and more stress leading up to the holiday season. Often, it’s the toughest time of the year for the hungry, homeless and those living on the edge. Someone barely making ends meet during the summer and autumn may be completely unable to do so over the course of long, cold winter.

Of course, those already living outdoors will be in a particularly challenging position as another harsh winter settles in, dumping potentially record-breaking amounts of snow and freezing rain across our area. Imagine being homeless during last year’s extreme winter? We know too many people who did exactly that, suffering through the worst winter on record.

At this time of year, every bit of support we can get – large or small – makes a big difference to someone in great need. Whether it’s volunteering your time or expertise, or digging deep to donate a few dollars, your support will go a long way to making the upcoming winter season a bit more bearable for local folks in need.

Donated Car Keeps PassionWorks Rolling

Donating an old car is a simple, quick and effective way to support PassionWorks and receive a tax deduction as well. Many folks think the process is complicated or time-consuming. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth! We recently received a generous contribution through a donated vehicle. The donor was kind enough to offer a short testimonial about the process which we’ve printed below.

“It was easy to support my community by donating my automobile to PassionWorks through the car donation program.  One phone call took care of everything including car pickup, title transfer, and vehicle sale.   My donation was handled by a knowledgeable representative, and everything was completed within 30 days.   The tax deduction is nice, but even better is being able to support a local organization like PassionWorks which works so hard to help the community!”  - Debbie J , Whitehouse Station, NJ

Debbie’s donation will go directly to helping those most in need in Ocean and Monmouth Counties. Through her generous donation, more people will have access to meals, clean water and a place to stay than would have without her help. We salute and thank you, Debbie!

Now, what are YOU waiting for? Got an old car you need to get rid of? Remember this story then call toll-free 1-877-537-5277 to get the ball rolling and get the old car out of the driveway while you help those most in need right here at home and collect a nice little tax deduction for next year’s taxes.

Thanks!

It has been a hectic couple weeks since the Starvation Eradication festival. We hope everyone had an enjoyable and safe 4th of July. Just in the past week, there have been several developments regarding the status of the homeless camp in Lakewood. We’ll have more details for you soon. This post is simply meant as a way to say thanks to all the artists, businesses and fans that made the Starvation Eradication 2010 summer festival a great success.

This week, we delivered 720 bottles of drinking water to the homeless camp in Lakewood, providing a sense of relief to the people living there during the hottest part of the summer. There’s a lot more work to do and we have many challenges ahead. However, because of the work you’re doing and the growing community of supporters behind our efforts, we’re able to help more people in need when they need it most.

That’s what PassionWorks is all about. We wanted to take just a brief moment and offer a big hearty “Thank You” for your continued support of our efforts, belief in our work and hope in our cause.

Eradicate Starvation NOW!

Most of you know by now that the Starvation Eradication Summer Festival 2010 is taking place this Saturday, June 26 at Rockn’ Joe Coffehouse and Bistro in Point Pleasant Beach. You know that an amazing lineup of musicians will be performing and an incredible group of generous businesses will be participating and donating raffle items. You know that you should bring a couple canned food items on Saturday to help support our efforts. But, perhaps you don’t really know why.

When one among us goes hungry, we all suffer. When our neighbors and fellow community members struggle, we are all in peril. When those near us go without, we all lack.

How we treat the neediest among us is a reflection of how we treat each other. It’s also a reflection of who we are. How can we sit idly by while there are those struggling for the basics. We’d likely be amazed by how our own lives and neighborhoods could be transformed for the good if we extended a helping hand to those who need it.

Of course, it’s easier not to do anything, to focus on our own problems and challenges, but often we do so from the comfort of our recliners or couches, in front of our Hi-Def wide-screen TVs or computer monitors with our bellies full and content. Meanwhile, there are people just a few minutes or miles away in great need. No recliner, no couch, no TV, no computer, no home, no food.

It’s time for action. It’s time to focus on a problem larger than ourselves. Hunger is a huge issue in Ocean and Monmouth counties, however it’s an issue we can do something about. But not without you.

Won’t you join us on Saturday? We can only eradicate starvation locally with your help.

Who Else Does PassionWorks Help?

Last winter we met a single man in Ocean Grove who had a roof over his head and a job but could not afford his utility bill.  His apartment was electric everything so when the electricity eventually got turned off, everything got turned off! No hot water, heat, lights, etc.

He was without electricity for about a month when he finally reached out to PassionWorks.  It cost $900 to get his utilities turned back on plus get a percentage of his back bills paid in order for the electric company to be satisfied for a while.

We were able to catch up with him a few weeks ago.  He appears to be back on track and sounds much better than he did last winter.  This gentleman’s life has improved because of the support PassionWorks receives from community members.  Can we count on your support so we can help more people right here in the communities and towns we live in?

Going Beyond Hunger And Homelessness

Needs in our area go far beyond the basic need for shelter and food. That’s why PassionWorks is dedicated to making a difference for local families, regardless of what the particular need may be. A family in crisis is a family in crisis. When we can help a situation like that, we will. Here’s an example.

Last winter, we helped a single mom of two children living in Howell. She worked hard and had a job but her small income was not making ends meet. She was forced to decide between the mortgage, groceries and heating oil. They paid their mortgage and made sure there was food in the cupboards. They were determined to pay the oil bill when they had a bit of extra money. Unfortunately, that extra money never came and the heat to their home in Howell was shut off. The family was freezing in their house, all the while everything else was somewhat normal.  Imagine doing your normal “hang around the house” thing…but in full winter jackets, hats, and gloves!  The oil cost PassionWorks approximately $600, but the warmth of a family home on a cold winter night is priceless.

This is just one story out of thousands of cases of need in our area. PassionWorks is committed to helping similar families in need year-round, but we can only do it through your generosity. Please consider making a $10 donation to PassionWorks – it may help keep a family warm when winter arrives.

How To Help PassionWorks Without Opening Your Wallet

Many nonprofit organizations and cause-related groups are cash-strapped. The race for charity dollars has never been easy, and when the economy is lagging a bit, donations can grind to a halt. Charities and nonprofits need to continue to ask for money and that certainly includes the team here at PassionWorks. However, there is much to be done beyond dollars. People can help those most in need in many ways without ever having to open their wallet.

Here’s a few ideas for giving back to your community and PassionWorks without spending a nickel.

1. Donating Your Time and Volunteering – In any organization, there are many jobs to be done. The same goes for PassionWorks. If you have just an hour or two each week, we have a variety of jobs that can be tailored to your talent and interests. Plus, you’ll have a positive impact on the community. Talk about a win-win!

2. Inspire and Implement Great Ideas – The world is changed by ideas everyday . Your concentrated efforts focused on helping people in our community could be the difference to many people. Whether you’re able to inspire others to organize and act, implement focused efforts that achieve meaningful results or provide the ideas and inspiration that lead people out of desperation and poverty, your thoughts, ideas and expertise can have a huge impact. But only if you step up.

3. Teach, Lead and Share – Helping people in need right now is challenging, rewarding and important. Teaching tomorrow’s leaders how to serve the community is even more challenging yet just as rewarding and no less important. It’s unlikely that hunger and homelessness will be completely eliminated in Ocean and Monmouth County New Jersey during our generation. However, future generations could, and hopefully will, develop solutions that provide substantive, sustainable solutions

So, there you have it. Three simple yet profound ways to help PassionWorks, our area and your neighborhood without ever opening up your wallet. Now, choose the one that’s right for you and let’s get to it. Call us at (732) 272-3477 to get involved today.

The 2010 Starvation Eradication Summer Festival

We recently discussed what defines PassionWorks as a “direct action” organization. Dealing with bureaucratic “Red Tape” and attending committee meetings are not two of the reasons PassionWorks was started and they both are not a few of our favorite things with regard to help the homeless and hungry. Making an IMMEDIATE IMPACT when local people are in need…that’s our thing and that’s why we do the work we do.

One of the most important and challenging local issues that people in need face besides being homeless is hunger. Hunger is silent and invisible. Individuals and families, homeless or not, go hungry in Monmouth and Ocean Counties every night. That’s unacceptable, and that’s what PassionWorks is taking aim at with our second annual Starvation Eradication Festival on Saturday, June 26.

Our supporters at Rockn’ Joe in Point Pleasant Beach are celebrating their one-year anniversary and after putting our heads together, we thought, “What better way to celebrate than do something together under one banner that will have a positive impact in our communities?” Thus, we are launching the 2nd Annual 2010 Starvation Eradication Festival on the grounds of this wonderful local eatery!

This will be a positive message acoustic/pop/rock concert festival with multiple bands participating and playing…all for the cause of assisting the hungry and homeless of New Jersey’s Monmouth & Ocean County areas.

It’s a free event but come hungry because Rockn’ Joe will donate 10% of the evening’s proceeds directly to PassionWorks to help us fulfill our mission. Of course, we also encourage folks to bring canned food and other donations for local people in need. But, remember, there’s no cover charge for an evening filled with great music, great food, and all for a great cause.

The confirmed lineup so far includes the incredible, generous and talented artists below:

Tim Butler
Catch the Mouse
Random Test Reggae Band
Almost There
Time is Monkey

We’ve also lined up some great door prizes from the following businesses who want to make a positive impact beyond the bottom line:
Paula Deen
Jac Vanek
Mary Anna’s Teas
DJ’s Delights, Asbury Park
FunkyChunks
Local Restaurant Gift Certificates
And many others…

If your business or a business you know would be potentially interested in donating a door prize, then please contact Kari West.

Check out the musicians and businesses above in advance of the event and be sure to mark Saturday, June 26 on your calendar. The Starvation Eradication Festival starts at 4pm and and ends at 10pm.

The impact we’ll have for local people in need will go far beyond just one night.

http://www.starvationeradication.com
http://www.passionworksusa.org
http://www.twitter.com/starvation_erad.com
http://www.twitter.com/passionworks
http://www.facebook.com/passionworksusa