Supply drive to help homeless planned at SUCCEED
The backseat of Stepfanie Armstrong’s car often looks like a donation center, where she keeps bulky clothing items, toiletries and light snacks.
Since 2016, the Butler woman has kept as many necessities as she can with her, so she can easily give them to people who need them around Butler. On April 9, she will get some relief from having to pick up donations herself, because she is teaming up with 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 will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. April 9 at 150 N. Main St., where Armstrong and the volunteers will accept necessities including clothing, light food items and cases of water.
“This donation day is the first one we have ever done which is going to be a huge relief,” Armstrong said. “The biggest part of this project is to not only shine a light on homelessness but to bring dignity to these people.”
Butler SUCCEED recently sent out a request for proposals for projects it could support. Armstrong was one of the first to submit, according to Josette Skobieranda Dau, SUCCEED’s administrator.
Skobieranda Dau said Armstrong’s mission was a good fit for SUCCEED to support.
“SUCCEED has the space and we are centrally located, which is helpful and I think we'll have a good turnout,” Skobieranda Dau said.
Volunteers from Slippery Rock University will help collect donations April 9, and sort them into the project’s titular bags that will eventually be given to people in need. Armstrong said she approaches people who look cold or hungry, gives them a packed bag and asks them if they know anyone else who needs help. She could help between one and a dozen people when she goes on these excursions at least once a month.
“I will introduce myself to the first person I see and ask them, say I have some stuff for them,” Armstrong said. “When talking to people the biggest things I hear they need is socks, ChapSticks and food. So I try to at least hit that when I'm doing it.”
Armstrong has a full-time job as a mental health contractor with the National Guard and takes classes at Walden University, so she has only been doing this initiative in the winter months. However, with enough support she would like to continue it into the rest of the year.
Skobieranda Dau said SUCCEED works with other support organizations like Butler Downtown and the Center for Community Resources, so its staff can help distribute supplies, while being a long-term drop off place for the homeless bag initiative.
“Really anyone can drop off at any time at SUCCEED, we’re not going to turn anyone away,” she said.
Armstrong first started the homeless bag project because she had struggled with financial stability in the past. When she was able to, she started trying to make a difference on her own.
“Having that fear, I can't imagine actually getting to the point of being homeless,” Armstrong said. “These are people and they need basic human items.”
For more information on the homeless bag project, visit Butler SUCCEED’s website.
