Benevolence Blankets – presentation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tEel9OOtJ0GU-QNKEKKgyBCZ11Rocxyg/view

• Zoe Bucher, Bellarmine Prep School Senior, and Girl Scout with 40220 - benevolenceblankets@gmail.com
• I want to get a degree in social work or social services
• For my girl scout Gold Award, I wanted to make a difference to people in need – gold award is highest award (read more about it at https://www.girlscouts.org/en/our-program/highest-awards/gold-award.html -Gerrit)
• Created a community club to make no-sew fleece blankets for those experiencing homelessness
• Purpose isn’t just to provide warmth to the most impoverished, but to show caring.
• Jennifer – she received Gold Award for this work (earned – she earned the Gold Award for this work. The Gold Award ain’t no participation trophy. Only 6% of all Girl Scouts earn it, although that has totaled over 1,000,000 Gold Awards since it was introduced 1916.  Well, it hasn’t always been the Gold Award - it used to be called the Golden Eaglet, and some other things - but the rigor and distinction haven’t changed.  –ed)
• Homelessness
  • What would you do if your family lost everything?  What would you do? You family might help
  • Most people on the streets didn’t have people to turn to?  What do they do?  They become homeless
  • Homeless individuals are hurting and have lost hope. 
  • What do you do when someone is homeless?  Do you look at them and nod? or look away?
  • People experiencing homelessness become disconnected and lose trust.  It takes time to build trust – it takes lots of outreaches.  Once a genuine relationship is created, they will eventually accept some resource to help them exit homelessness
  • It is tough to work on exiting homelessness- they have to focus on survival?  Can you imagine working on  survival every day, and having to write a resume or work on other issues?
  • How does addition connect to homelessness?  many homeless individuals become addicted because of their homelessness, not the other way around. Sometimes they use drugs to help them
  • Homelessness is a local, national and global problem.  The Pierce County Point In Time Count identifies 1,486 people homeless – some 629 sleeping outdoors, and 857 in emergency shelters. In 2017, 550,000 people were experiencing homelessness in the US.  The United Nations counted 100,000,000 worldwide.  And these are admitted undercounts. (I usually quibble with citing the Point in Time statistic, but Zoe both cited the number correctly- apparently a bigger challenge than I had realized – but also identified the possible short comings – so I’m giving her a solid A on this part of the report. –ed)
  • The problem seems overwhelming – but if we do small thing this will improve.
  • (I cannot possibly stress how often the straightforward facts Zoe laid out here seem to elude so many in our community – citizens and leaders alike.  Well done, Zoe. –ed)
• Benevolence Blankets
  • Started in a club in the December of 2018 with a goal of distributing, over 12 months, 100 blankets to people experiencing homelessness. 
  • Partnered with Tacoma Rescue Mission to distribute blankets.  We partnered with them because they offer so much – veteran programs, meals, shelters, help finding jobs and housing, and have been around 106 years (and because she noticed they are awesome people to work with, too, I suspect. –ed)
    • Last year, Tacoma Rescue Mission provided 301,799 meals served to the homeless
    • 2,354 homeless men, women and children, were helped
    • I like the Tacoma Rescue Mission Search and Rescue mission team – they took my blankets with them at night to reach out to the homeless.  I really wanted the blankets not just to be handed out, but used as a good faith conversation starter to help build trust with the people experiencing homelessness – so some day they could take the van back to Tacoma Rescue Mission to get off the streets. (just so we’re clear, the blankets are Pro Bono – definitely not a Quid Pro Quo. –ed)
  • The Club started with 4 officers and 2 other members.  I was President, a friend was Vice President, Mom was Secretary, and a Neighbor was Treasurer.  The Club was a lot of work, and it was good to have partners helping run it.
  • We meet on the 1^st and 3^rd Tuesday of the month from 6pm to 7:30pm at the Tacoma Public Library Swasey branch (https://www.tacomalibrary.org/locations/7/ ). We make between 4-8 blankets each evening.
  • Club grew to 15 members – 10 adults and 5 high school members.  People learn about the club through flyers, and through seeing the club in action and on the facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/BenevolenceBlankets/ ). I’m very grateful for my volunteers.
  • The club reached the goal of 100 blankets in just 6 months – and we complete 200 blankets in 11 months, broken down by Sizes:
    • 68 large adult
    • 32 medium adult
    • 40 small adult
    • 60 child
  • Has had a big impact on my life and on the lives of my volunteers. 
  • I wasn’t able to go on the search and rescue team to distribute blankets because I wasn’t 18.  But, twice Lucy and I passed out blankets in the courtyard of the emergency shelter. 
  • One person wanted a camo blanket – and when I provided them the blanket, the slept right there on a bench for an hour using my blanket.
  • What is most important to them was the emotional support, and that we uplifted them, and the face-to-face connection.  They like that we were helping them.
  • We asked one veteran about what was stopping him from exiting homelessness – he said it was his state of mind.  After money, what he needed most was emotional support (him and me both. –ed)
• Each person on the streets has a unique story about homelessness. 
• One man helped by search and rescue shared that it takes 13 blankets to keep him warm in cold weather. 
• My Gold Award project may be over, but Benevolence Blankets continue on.  We started the club up again this year. (interesting word, Benevolence. I comes from the latin “bene” – meaning well – and volantem – meaning to wish. While it has a pleasant meaning, the sound of the word has a pleasant, euphonic finish that is hard not to appreciate.  –ed)
• Now, blankets are going not just to the Tacoma Rescue Mission, but also to Serra house – the new Youth Shelter operated by The Coffee Oasis.
• What can you do to make a difference in the life of someone experiencing homelessness?  An act of hope may be what it takes for someone’s life to get back on track.  Isn’t it worth the effort to try that? 
• Does the blanket end homelessness?  No – but it all helps. 
• Question – are you showing that presentation elsewhere – that is really useful, but lots of people could use that information.? 
• Question – could you come to a Daisy and Brownie meeting?  Zoe – yes.
• Theresa –Have you thought of making fleece scarves for the 99 stocking project.  Zoe – we often have fleece from the trim – we could.
• Al – nice work – I’d like to get a copy of the presentation.  (it is at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tEel9OOtJ0GU-QNKEKKgyBCZ11Rocxyg/view -ed)
• Question – could you present to my church? Zoe - yes