2/1/2019 Status Update

Hello everyone and again my prayers go out to those sleeping out in the cold and may they be safe from harm. Today was a good day and I still cannot forget about last week when my husband and I went down to Atlanta to pass out bag lunches to those sleeping on the sidewalks. We are going to have to get a video next time it was just dark by the time we got down there and found all of them.

I saw a man today while out getting some groceries sitting on the curb and he had a sign that stated, "I'm hungry" and it yanked at my heartstrings once again. I still had some bag lunches in the car with no sandwiches in them, so I bought a hamburger to go in the bag with the chips and drink and gave it to him. He was so appreciative that I gave him something to eat. I also gave him a hygiene kit and a box of donuts that I had just bought in the store. I figure he needed it more than myself since I am diabetic.

I felt good to know that I helped someone today even if it was just giving him something to eat. He was happy as he sat there eating it and I was happy knowing that I still had those items in the car. I cannot express how much compassion I have for the homeless and their story. Eventually, I will get with some of them and get their story just so that I can tell it to everyone. Most of society see the homeless as being in their situation because of drugs and alcohol, but if you ever got the chance to talk to one of them and got to know the person, you would see something entirely different.

I still need to get on the phone and make arrangements to set up tables for donations, but I need to get our finances in check first so that we will have the gas to make the trip. A lot of what we are handing out comes from our own finances when we have it to spare. We have not been operating lately because of me being ill and having all the doctor appointments, but I am good now and ready to get things moving.

Not only does my daily schedule work for my book writing and authorship, but it incorporates things for Hope Station like grant writing and program planning. Tomorrow after working the flea market for Hope Station, I have some foundations and grant research to do. I finally broke down and drew up the physical plan for the new program and now I just need to get the paperwork and financials of it down and ready to present to foundations.

Well, this was just a quick update because I need to get candles finished and ready for tomorrow's sale. I hope everyone has a wonderful day and remember to help someone out less fortunate than yourself. Pay it forward.

Feeding the Homeless 1/26/2019

Good morning everyone. It is ten twenty-one in the morning and thirty-four degrees outside here in Dalton, Georgia. It is beautiful outside with the sun shining, but pretty cold. I just woke up from having a bad night last night with sleep. We were supposed to go to the flea market this morning, but after my night, I just couldn't go.

Yesterday was an awesome day because we made up bag lunches and hygiene kits to hand out to the homeless. We were going to hand them out locally but could not find but two individuals and I know that Dalton has lots of homeless people we just couldn't find them and we drove around checking all the spots for about an hour.

Thanks to the Mayor and law enforcement, they have forced the homeless out of the city limits and into the county which makes them widespread. After driving around for about an hour and checking where the tent cities should have been, we decided to go to Atlanta. It is only an hour away and I know that they are all over down there.

We jumped on the interstate and headed South. We got caught in traffic due to road work where they closed off a three-lane interstate to one lane and we were stuck at a slow move for about an hour and a half before it finally cleared up and we were back on our way.

With the Super Bowl a week away, Atlanta does things and events the whole week beforehand leading up to it the main event. This year my Patriots are in the Super Bowl and it is being played right here in Atlanta but I don't have the money to go which is a bummer. It was very active driving through downtown.

We reached our destination at about six o'clock and it was just beginning to get dark and we found a few homeless people but it was dinner time so most of them were at local soup kitchens. We stopped at one because I had to use the bathroom and when I walked inside, this place was packed with homeless individuals and I really got to see just a percentage of the homeless population and it was devastating to me mentally.

There were able-bodied men, who after talking with a few of them stated that there were no jobs that would hire them. It is a shame that a city as big as Atlanta had no jobs for these men. Then, we made our way to our final destination which was the bridge down by the hospital. They lined both sides under the bridge of people laying on the concrete and trying to keep warm.

They were excited to see us coming to hand them a bag lunch and hygiene products. I could not believe how appreciative and polite they were. One of them asked me why we wanted to help them when no one else cares. I almost wanted to cry because these people have been shoved aside like trash to wither and die in the cold.

My husband and I found ourselves in some serious conversations with some of them and it was heartbreaking to see another human being feel like they were worthless and thrown out like trash. One of them asked us to take her home because she didn't want to be out there anymore. Let's just say that our experience was eye-opening to these individuals.

Some were huddled against the wall without a blanket and just covered by a jacket and I felt so bad that we didn't bring any blankets, but I know better now. We need to campaign for blankets and socks. If that is all we can do right now just to help keep them warm during these cold months. So, if anyone wants to make a donation of a package of socks or a blanket, they will be greatly appreciated. These people really need it and we want to spread the warmth as we try to help.

If you decide to make a monetary donation, just click the PayPal button on this site and the money will go towards purchasing food and blankets. We all need to come together to help out our fellow human being. We just hope that everyone has a heart and wants to help.

Well, it is time to get to work finishing off some books of mine because a percentage of all earned royalties goes towards Hope Station USA to assist us in helping the homeless. I want to wish everyone born on this date a "Happy Birthday" and may you have many more to come. To everyone else, have an awesome and blessed Saturday. Take care.

Status Update 1/23/2019

Good morning to all. It is actually a nice morning this morning. It still got a bit cold during the night but right now it is forty degrees outside. I wanted to give everyone an update on our status and it is good news. We are going to be delivering bag lunches out to the homeless this Friday or Saturday, but more like Friday so that we can work the flea market on Saturday. I also have my list of merchants to call to set up tables and get things going.

We will be handing out the lunches, hygiene kits, and some warm clothing. I am going to be working on getting some blankets and socks for the homeless soon because they need it sleeping outside. We will be here serving the homeless in Dalton, Georgia and then working on a trip to Jacksonville, Florida. We are excited and pumped up about getting things started.

We are still waiting on Georgia registration paperwork to be processed, but when I spoke to them they told me to continue working under the same identification number because that won't change. We should have it this week but it will not stop me from helping people. My passion does not need a piece of paper to tell me I can help them. So cross your fingers that it comes soon so that we can start fundraising.

Well, it is time to get going because I have a doctor's appointment this morning and I have some things to get done first before we leave. I just felt the need to update everyone on what we are doing and we wish everyone a blessed and prosperous day. Our prayers go out to those sleeping outside for them to stay warm and be safe. "Happy Birthday" to everyone celebrating one today and may God bless you with many more. Take care. 

Status Update 1/16/2019

Good morning to all. It is early in the morning here in Dalton, Georgia and the sun is not up yet. I have a busy day writing today and getting books finished. As you know, Hope Station USA gets a good percentage of all book royalties so that she can have a residual income. So everyone needs to get their copies of my books knowing that you are helping the homeless and needy by buying books.

My health is coming back to normal and I am still motivated to get back out there helping those in need. I have filed with the state of Georgia for their registration of Hope Station and awaiting the permit to place inside the big book. I am excited.

Between now and next week, I will be going through my list and setting up tables to collect donations and sell candles & books. It is a new year and with great motivation, we will be servicing the homeless soon with bag lunches and clothing.

It is all that we can afford right now, but it still helps. I need to get a camera to take pictures to add to the site and I look forward to meeting new people and talking to them. I need to find out what is needed by them so that we can be prepared. I will be bagging up hygiene kits next week and that is probably when we will go out because we have warm clothing to pass out.

Well, that is the update for today and I will keep them coming. I hope everyone has a blessed day and my prayers go out to those affected by homelessness and for their safety and warmth. Take care.

Happy New Year's!!

Happy New Year everyone!! How is everyone doing tonight? I am excited about the new year being here because it will bring about new things for Hope Station USA. I am in the works of putting the plans together for the new program that we are developing and still fixing the ads and campaigns to run to bring in funding for the project.

Things move a little slow, but they are coming together. Good things come to those who are patient and wait for their season to come in. I will be setting appointments for donation tables throughout Florida this month to begin drawing in the funding. We have hygiene kits that we will be passing out and hopefully, soon our stockpile fo food will be back up and able to pass out food to those who are hungry.

We have had a couple bad years due to my medical conditions and just recently had surgery to have a pacemaker for my bladder put in, but my faith is bigger than a mustard seed to see Hope Station thrive this year. I have books that have been published and more that will be soon that will create a residual income for Hope Station until more areas of funding begin to come in.

My research for grants has been slow but I expect some good news to come in once we get the plans for the new program set in concrete. I will be picking up some more supplies like socks to hand out and gathering things together to make February our start date for this year with services again.

We are also going to incorporate Tennessee into our plans this year as well. There are many all across America who are hungry, cold, and unemployed who need assistance and not a handout. We are going to be that hand up to assist those in helping themselves in gaining their self-sufficiency. We are not going to turn anyone down who is hungry, but we are going to put in the initiative to help people get back to work and on their feet.

Thinking of Those Sleeping in the Cold

It is supposed to be a Merry Christmas, but I can't help but think about those still sleeping out in the cold and most of them alone without family. I know a lot of them are out there by choice but a lot have no other choices to choose from. It saddens me on this day in particular because we are so busy sending money, clothing, and blankets overseas that we forget about the ones we have suffering here in our own backyards.

Everyone says that they are homeless because of drugs or alcohol, but that is mostly a coping mechanism to being out there in the streets. I was out there for two decades and no one wanted to give me a hand up because all they saw was a prostitute with a drug problem. One man took a chance on me and I have now been clean and street free for a decade now.

I have begun working on a campaign to help those wanting a better life off of the streets. It will take some time putting it together but I have begun the planning process before seeking the funding for it. I need to have all the ducks in a row before seeking funders and volunteers for the project. I am looking positively at it and that it will work to help many.

Should anyone care to help us out with funding now can make a donation on the site itself. We are in need of food and warm blankets for the homeless if you want to drop them by the Georgia address. Well, it is time to get things going and I am running a little late. You can also help out by going to brandidpayne.com and buying one of my books which a percentage of the royalties goes to Hope Station USA.

Well, have a Merry Christmas and please remember those still living out in the cold. Take care.

Things Are Moving Slowly Right Now

2018 was supposed to be Hope Station USA's year to come up, but finances and medical conditions have thrown monkey wrenches into the mix every time I turn around. Now that I am getting healthier and having my medical needs addressed, I am working to get things going for 2019.

No one ever said that it would be easy and with so much going against the homeless, they make it nearly impossible for small grass root organizations to come up and really do some good. I have been doing some checking and researching things to do to bring her back up.

I now have a reliable vehicle that can make the trips to Florida to fundraise and feed the homeless it is just getting the funds together to get there. Book sales have been slow because Summer is a slow time for book sales anyway, but I am expecting it to pick up soon where a quarter of my book royalties go back into Hope Station to give her a residual income.

Foundations and grants have been changing so much to cater to hospitals and education, that it seems that everyone forgot about the homeless out there trying to survive in the elements. I will never forget about them because I was once out there with them and I know how cold it can be or how unsafe it can be.

My one wish is for everyone to step up and adopt a homeless person to help them become self-sufficient again. At least help us to help them where they can see where their donations are going. I have been doing my very best to try and pick things up and get the funding that we need to help and maintain, but people just don't seem to care anymore.

Everyone is having a hard time in our economy, but it only takes one dollar to help someone. If everyone in the world gave up one dollar we would not have a homeless problem. I do have an idea for a program to help the homeless get back on their feet and need to do some more research on it to make it happen.

I am getting excited for a new year to happen because this year has gone by so fast that it has made people's heads spin. Along with book writing, which takes a lot of my time, and putting things together for the Hope Station, this next year should be a good one.

I just need more proof that we are servicing the homeless to gain more funding. It will happen and I have faith that God has made a way for me to help them. I just need everyone's help to take the steps needed. So, for now, send your prayers that Hope Station will come back to life for us and for them next year. God Bless!

Everything Is In Order

I just finished all the registration paperwork for both Florida and Georgia and filed the tax return in April and now it is time to get busy with fundraising. I have published three books so far and will be publishing a couple more here in the next couple of weeks and twenty-five percent of the royalties will go to Hope Station for a residual income to assist us in our efforts.

I will be setting up an author table at the local flea market and selling books and other handmade crafts in order to build her income. I know this year will be a better one. I look forward to traveling between Georgia and Florida helping those in need.

Well, time is wasting and I have to get back to finishing my next book. I hope everyone has a great and blessed weekend. Take Care.

2018 Is Our Year!!

     Last year was a hard year even into the first part of this year due to health issues for me, but things will get better this year. I have faith that we will be blessed with enough funding to help us continue our efforts in assisting the homeless regain their self-sufficiently and to feed those in need. We are in the works of getting our game plan in order.
     I have become an author of three books with one being the first in a series that tells my story. This series I am writing is to hopefully help those who are facing the same issues. I am a survivor who wishes to give my experience and knowledge to those out there facing the nightmare that I lived for thirty-two years. It is not a nice place to be mentally, physically, or even emotionally. It can destroy someone and make them feel hopeless.
     It bothers me when those who are financially secure talk down about those who are in need because they are already beaten down and society makes them feel worse. Most need and desire a hand up and not a handout. I wish people would recognize when someone truly needs help and not just a bum and a beggar.
     Well, with my books sales I will be giving a percentage of my royalties and revenue to Hope Station USA to be able to help more. Join me in fighting for and supporting those who need us by clicking that button on this site if you wish to make a donation. You will receive a receipt for tax purposes and I will continue to post here informing everyone what their contribution is doing to fight homelessness and hunger. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.