Slippery Rock University students Sharlie Dixon,18, left, and C.J. Zaphyr, 22, collect items for care packages for homless people Saturday, part of a joint effort between the school's SUCEED program and the Homeless Bag Project. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 04/09/22

Becky Cajka, of Butler First United Methodist Church, left, and Homeless Bag Project organizer Stepfanie Armstrong display a sleeping mat made out of plastic grocery bags Saturday during a collection of drive for the homeless at SUCCEED, 150 Main St. ERIC FREEHLING/BUTLER EAGLE

Stepfanie Armstrong got a little help Saturday in her effort to help homeless National Guard members.

Armstrong teamed up with with the Butler Slippery Rock University Center for Community Engagement, Empowerment and Development (SUCCEED) for a collection drive for what she calls the Homeless Bag Project.

The drive took place from 2 to 5 p.m. at the SUCCEED site at 150 N. Main St., where Armstrong and SRU student volunteers collected necessities including clothing, light food items and cases of water.

Armstrong said she started the Homeless Bag Project seven years ago out of the back of her car.

“I saw a need for basic items that homeless people were going without. I’d pile up the car and hit the streets. I partnered with Butler SUCCEED for the first donation day,” said Armstrong.

In addition, she said SUCCEED connected her with SRU media and marketing students who not only helped with Saturday’s collection and bagging of donations but in designing a website and Facebook page for the project.

The new site, page and logo should be active by the end of May and greatly increase the visibility of Armstrong’s work.

“They are way more equipped than I am. They even made me a logo,” she said. The higher online visibility should get awareness of the Homeless Bag Project out to people better than word of mouth.

The goal Saturday was to fill at least 100 bags for distribution to those homeless through National Guard units. Because of her job as a mental health consultant with the National Guard, she said she knows there many National Guardsmen who are homeless because of substance abuse and mental health issues.

“I will find homeless encampments in Butler and hand out bags every month or two,” Armstrong said. “I try to humanize the homeless population as opposed to just handing a bag out the window.”

She said in each bag she includes the names and addresses of organizations that can offer help.

In addition, Armstrong said she works with many community resources such as When Pigs Fly which hands out meal vouchers as well as her homeless bags.

One of those resources is SUCCEED whose associate director, Josette Skobieranda Dau, said is always looking to pair SRU students, faculty and staff with local organizations, residents, schools, nonprofits and businesses to promote community and economic development.

One of the donations came from Becky Cajka of Butler’s First United Methodist Church who delivered a sleeping mat crocheted out of plastic grocery bags. The mat provides a waterproof layer between the sleeper and the street.

Armstrong said for more information about the Homeless Bag project, email ButlerHBP@gmail.com.