Street Photography is far more than just taking pictures… – Okay, as many people know, I’m trying to ease the suffering of several mentally disabled homeless men through the winter by providing food and warm clothes (part of my “Under Chicago Lower Wacker Project”). Phil is one of these gentlemen. Phil has a hard time keeping a coat and hat. I’ve gone through several coats, and multiple hats over the past two months. I wasn’t ableo find Phil over the past week, but found him today while I was shooting street on Lower Wacker. Once again, he has no coat or hat.
This is the slow season for my roof repair work, and I’m just about out of my own funds for helping these people.Phil is one of many people who somehow falls through the cracks. He will not go to a shelter, and therefore does not receive assistance from the shelters. I’ve never asked for money online, but I’m asking now. I set this PayPal button up to take donations. The money is NOT for me, but for keeping Phil (and others like Phil) properly clothed over the winter. If you feel compelled to help, both Phil, and myself, thank you in advance (I’ll be going down on Wednesday to check on him).
Here is Phil’s home. That’s him under the blankets and garbage:
UPDATE: 1/22/2013
I just returned from shopping for warm clothes for Phil and a few folks like him. It was actually slim pickings at the thrift stores. Short supply of hats and gloves with this cold snap that came in. I was able to get two nice used coats, 10 new hats and six pairs of new gloves. There’s still $32.00 left of the $101.00 dollars people donated. First thing in the morning I’ll be heading out to Lower Wacker to pass this warm gear out. Phil will sure like the coat (I’m putting the second coat up because Phil will lose his coat within a week. Now he has a backup!). Thanks once again to the kind folks that donated.
Home on Lower Wacker Drive, Chicago
UPDATE 1/25/2013 – I made 25 food packs to bring to the people on Lower Wacker using the last $50.00 of the donation money (still a little cash left that I’ll pass out). When I was down there the other day people were asking for food. These folks are truly grateful whenever I go down there. I send their thanks to the folks that donated the funds to provide the warm cloths and food.
5:39 PM – Update from the streets: I did not realize that 25 baloney sandwich food packs could be so heavy. I had to walk from LaSalle station to Wacker… I must be getting old because it was heavy!…lol… So here’s the deal: Phil is back in the hospital with frostbite, which is actually a good thing, as now possibly Phil will get the service that he needs. Herbert is somehow still alive and still walking around with the back of his pants blown out and his toes sticking through his shoes. He’s one tough carbon unit… The food that I handed out this morning was very well received and appreciated. There are also two alleys where people are living, and I stopped there on my way to Wacker to check on Country and Israel. I gave both of them food packs.
New people have donated money, and there is now another $30.00 in the Phil’s Fund account. I will be going back down on Thursday if anyone would like to contribute. Here’s what the money will go towards this round: There are three individuals down on Lower Wacker that are actually trying to get off the street. I’ve been down there enough to start to know who is who (several people called me by my name, so I guess they know me as well). These three people (young men) need bus passes to look for work. They asked if I would go online and see what resources are available to them as far as using free Internet service, temporary housing, and a phone. I know that there is a way to get a free phone, because a gentleman named Don was able to get one last week. I’ll have to ask Don how he went about doing that. It’s real hard to get a job if you don’t have a phone.
So, any money donated between now and Thursday will go towards more food packs to be handed out, and also targeting these three specific people who are sincerely trying to better themselves – this round, bus passes and food. Again, thanks so much to the folks that have contributed to my small little war on homelessness. It is my opinion, that regardless of what someone has done – or, has failed to do – they do not deserve to live on the streets. Not in a Just society.
UPDATE: February 4, 2013
I found Phil today. He was shivering like a wet puppy under his blankets.
Once again, Phil only had on a lite jacket, no hat, and… no shoes. What in the hell this man does with his shoes, I may never know. I think he takes them off when he’s sleeping, and then the crackheads take them. Lower Wacker is full of crackheads. Even the Alley Boys think the folks on Lower Wacker are scoundrels.
Anyway, I ran up to a store and purchased Phil some socks and a cheap $15.00 pair of shoes. I’ll be going back down on Saturday, if you would like to contribute, the Phil’s Fund is still open. Any money donated goes to purchase food, bus passes, and clothes for the most needy – and deserving.
