Longtime Southlake resident Doricelys Martinez has a heart for others, and she proved that during her group’s, Helping Hands 4 The Homeless – Tarrant County, December visit. Doricelys has collected donations before for things like sleeping bags and blankets, but last month, she focused on one item that many may not think could be beneficial for a homeless person: a suitcase.
“All of the homeless individuals we serve have very few things to their names, and a lot of them are carrying all their possessions around in plastic or paper bags,” Doricelys says. “Having a way to store and transport their belongings in a real suitcase, and the dignity of not using a garbage bag when they’re moving around on the streets has a big impact. Whether they're using the suitcase to move from one place to another, shelter to shelter, or in some cases to a permanent home, the suitcases symbolize a journey. That journey may be only a short distance or a short time, but it can change a life.”
So Doricelys turned to the Southlake Moms Facebook group to ask for donations, and she received 80 new or slightly used suitcases. After a positive response, she and her volunteers were able to donate those directly to those in the homeless community in Fort Worth. She was able to serve more than 350 people that day, and many expressed gratitude for solving a problem they often struggled with.
“Listening and seeing their reaction definitely confirms that we need more of this, and so I want to continue our efforts by starting the Rolling Suitcases for our Homeless Community Friends Campaign,” Doricelys says.
Doricelys will continue to collect suitcases and give them out during her monthly food donation visits. She hopes to bring at least 125 suitcases with her to both her January 26 and February 23 visits.
During their December visit, the group of volunteers was also able to serve a hot meal that included pizza, spaghetti, tamales, rice and dinner rolls. Santa and Mrs. Claus also made a visit and Hands 4 The Homeless was able to hand out wrapped presents. To learn more about Helping Hands 4 The Homeless – Tarrant County, you can visit their Facebook page.