Our Goal

Hi and thanks for visiting. The goal of this campaign is to collect and/or purchase backpacks and supplies to fill them in order to give them out as outreach tools and to help people experiencing homelessness, with a focus on veterans. This campaign ends on Nov. 11th - Veterans day and then we will purchase items and fill the backpacks to have ready for the first week of December.

• My name is Steve Conrad and I have worked in the non-profit field for 18 years - first with abused children ages 11-17 in a residential care facility and most recently at the Human Services Campus - a campus of over 15 agencies dedicated to ending homelessness.
• This campaign is aimed and helping end homelessness for veterans because I believe no person who risked their life to defend this country and the people in it should be left to fend for themselves on the streets.
• This backpack drive may seem like just a small action but by supplying an outreach team with backpacks filled with blankets, toiletries, water, and other survival items, they can build a rapport with those experiencing homelessness and can engage and hopefully get a person off the streets and into services to help them end their homelessness.

What We Need & What You Get

• Our goal is $1,000.00 in funding which can supply 100 filled backpacks.
• I know many campaigns have shirts and mugs and other perks but we would like 100% of the funds raised to go to homeless veterans and others experiencing homelessness. We will write you with our sincere thanks and keep you updated on our progress through photos and videos.
• We are hoping to get lots of items donated, as well, so every dollar will just help us provide more backpacks and essential survival items. If we go over our goal, we will just get that many more backpacks and items.
• If you are like me you might be conflicted when you see someone standing on a corner begging for money. You may want to give but not know if you would truly be helping the person. This is a way to know that you are doing something to help and not just a temporary fix but a real possibility and helping end that persons homelessness.

Let's help end homelessness for Veterans

• Every dollar given will help someone experiencing homelessness and help them get essential services, too, by giving outreach members a way to engage with someone experiencing homelessness.
• The organization we work with each each is Madison Street Veterans Association, a nationally recognized program that won the "Champion of change award" from the President in 2011.
• While "ending homelessness" is a lofty and seemingly unobtainable goal, it is possible to end homelessness one person at a time and that is the focus of this campaign. Engage someone living on the streets, offer them services such as job searches, new clothes, showers, and shelter. We would like to help get people back on their feet until they can stand for themselves. 

Other Ways You Can Help

Even if you cannot contribute money at this time we need help with the following:

• Getting backpacks, toiletries (shampoo, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs, etc.), and water bottles (refillable) donated.
• Helping to stuff the backpacks with all of the items in assembly line fashion.
• Helping to get the word out by sharing this campaign with others