There are so many organization in the United States that work to help homeless people. There are groups that feed them, give them shelter, and help them find jobs. While these are all great ways to helps, they don't identify these people as normal or like everyone else. One of the amazing things Streetbooks does is help these people become educated readers and show the world that the people living outside, as they call them, are not so different from the rest of the educated community. They're not just giving books, they're telling the people of Portland that those people are just like you and me. They are sending a message, and to me thats the most important thing you can do with a non-profit organization.
The patrons don't have to give their names and Streetbooks doesn't even have a way to ensure that they'll get the books back except trust. This may seem a little risky, but this system has worked and people have returned the books. It would be difficult for me to trust that I would get the books back and I would have to have some chart or graph to know what I gave out, where, and to whom.
This organization is really doing a great thing for Portland. It would really benefit communities if these things were everywhere. It warms my heart when I hear about people like this doing things like this without receiving anything except the joy that comes from helping another person.
Johnson, Kirk. "Homeless Outreach in Volumes: Books by Bike for ‘Outside’ People in Oregon." The New York Times. The New York Times, 09 Oct. 2014. Web. 10 Oct. 2014.
This really revives my belief that there is still good in people. People like this are a lot less common than they should be. I hope that more people like this man continue to appear around the world. I think that everyone should attempt to help those who are less fortunate than themselves. Books are a great way to show compassion to others. If the behavior continues to grow, homeless and fortunate people alike will be able to bond and become friends. Kind acts like this will break down the social stigma towards the homeless.
ReplyDeleteI disagreey. The homelass r just gonna to get the books dirty. Who wants diRty books? TERRORISTS, that's who! They are ruining the education systems in Iran and it has to stop. First, the boks, then the woman, and don't even get me stawted on these violent video games. Young girls are subject to over-sexualization due to people like Beyonce and Taylor Swift Lol. Our girls r going to grew up thinking their only worth is their goodies. Speaking of Goodies, I have a headache. I need some Tylenol, and could I get sometin for my circulatory problums.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you and Taylor Daniel this man's kindness and generosity reassures me that there are good people in the world and it's good to know that there are homeless people that will still be able to enjoy reading. the only problem I see with this is that it's kind of not the main issue which is these people don't have homes so I think that should be resolved the books are nice I guess.
ReplyDeleteI personally love this post, and agree with you, Taylor, and Mikhail. What this man is doing, is a great thing. He's allowing the less fortunate of his community to educate themselves through the use of books, and is treating them like everyone else of the community. I also love that the borrowing books process all runs on trust. They don't know if the books will be returned, or what condition they will be in once returned, but they instill trust into the homeless. I also like the fact that the organization is non-profit. I look forward to more posts!
ReplyDeleteThere is a quote that I love, and it says: "Reading to the mind is like exercise to the body". Not only does this organization provide books, but it provides a form of education as well. What most people our age don't realize is that reading is an outlet for the imaginative part of our brains to believe the impossible and live a life through a character or story. I am extremely passionate about this topic and it is good to know that the people running this organization are, too.
ReplyDeleteBeing that I don't read, this blog is irrelevant to me.
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