In 2009 I decided to start giving a portion of what the site generates in donations and advertising revenue to the homeless and people generally in need..
 
    This is not a highly publicised program since it is about helping and not about promotion for the site.  And because of this idea, I typically give to those in need and do not require them to sign a receipt to post on the site, for me to claim on taxes, etc...  Often times the people I help are on the side of road, in the background, and often not seen by most in our day to day routines.  These people are often invisible to the "important" things in our lives.
 
    I have made the choice to help these people.  If you would like to help, please contact me or click the donate button on the right for more information.
 
Thanks for your interest and support
Jeff Spacek



Wednesday April 7, 2010
 
    Today I was driving and noticed a man sitting at a bus stop.  He had quite a few bags which looked like old luggage or carrying bags.  He looked to me as though he might be homeless and had stopped for a rest.  I was on the inside lane on the same side of the street at a stop light.  After the light changed I made my way over to the same side of the road as the bus stop and into the parking lot to make my way back towards it.  I dug around in my pocket to get some money to give.  I was thinking I would give him a $5 bill, but I pulled out $7, so I decided to give it to him.  As I made my way to the bus stop I could see he was now across the street; so I drove into the street back to the same light I was at before in order to turn into the parking lot on the other side of the road.  He was stopped at the corner and as I turned into the parking lot I thought he was wating there for something.  The intersection was pretty busy and there were quite a few cars coming in and out.  After turning around, I realized he was now further down on the other side of the parking lot exit by another bus stop.  So I made my way back into the street in the opposite direction and into the next parking lot entrance.  Finally I could see him at the bus stop and I pulled around a video store building behind the bus stop. 
    At first I thought he was just waiting for the bus and maybe he was not homeless, until I realized he was putting his bags into a shopping cart in order to carry them through the large shopping center parking lot.  I pulled up to the basket and gestured for him to come over.  I held out the money in my hand and said to him that he looked like he could use some help.  He had a look of relief on his face and said "yes".  I handed him the money and he said "God bless you".  I said to him that I hope he will be ok and he replied "I will now; for a little while".  I started driving away and felt good that I had helped him but I felt it just wasn't enough.  So I made my way back around the building again and gave him another $20  Again he said "God bless you" and I drove away.
    Before I had seen him on the side of the road at the bus stop the first time I had just come from the store where I was considering buying something for $27 that I did not really need; and so I felt the money was better given to someone who would use it for something important; the things we take for granted: food, water, a place to stay.
    My ride home was about 20 minutes and during the trip I thought several times that I wish I could do more.  I also recalled as I was waiting at the light looking at him on the other side of the road, I watched many people in their vehicles and realized that this person was invisible to hundreds of people waiting at the light and driving past.  No doubt they had their minds on the important things like what song was playing on the radio or who they could text on their phone and all the mundane things in their dream worlds.

     I hope this story has given you some insight as to what I have done and continue to do for those I see in need; and I hope it will help to open your eyes and your heart to those around us that need to know they are not forgotten.