#PackedHope
By: Sue Johnson
We met “Jodie” in Framingham, as she came off the street to pick up a backpack and a hot meal. It was winter and her eyes lit up at the warm hat and gloves she received. Jodie opened every zipper of the backpack, discovering shampoo, a toothbrush, and a small pad of paper. She took her possessions out of a bag and placed them all carefully in her new backpack, smiling at what she had received. Jodie lives on the streets of Framingham. Jodie is being sexually exploited. Jodie was in disbelief that someone would care about her.
“Kathy” crossed our path at a homeless drop in center. She was on her own in Worcester, as she had decided she needed to live in a new location away from old friends and influences. She had no home, no friends, and no hot meals. At the drop in center, we gave Kathy a backpack filled with some basic toiletries. Everything given to her was travel size, so she would have enough space to put her belongings into the backpack. Kathy was thrilled to see a bottle of water, deodorant, and soap. She shared with us some of her story: struggles with addiction; lost custody of her children; and bad relationships. She is trying really hard to turn her life around and it isn’t easy or simple. She clutched onto the backpack and thanked us for caring.
“Val” is about a month out of county lock up. She is trying to accomplish things each day and has goals to get a job and eventually get an apartment. She is working hard to stay away from opioids. Val loves her new backpack, as she can be a bit more organized in a life swirling with chaos.
In the woods of Hyannis, Brockton, Attleboro, Taunton and Worcester there are backpacks that have been handed out to women with no home. The stories share common threads of loss and despair. These backpacks interrupt despair with hope. Something deeper and more profound is happening than meeting a few basic daily needs. It is the backpack itself, symbolizing hope and a future for a woman. The backpack – most of them used, ready to be thrown away and reclaimed right on time – the backpack is something seen given to so many unseen, who are thankful that they have been seen at last.
In 14 months we have given out over 200 backpacks and supplies of daily essentials to well over 500 homeless women. Team NEAHMA has donated countless backpacks and personal care items, for which we are grateful. Moving forward, we are looking for items listed below to help best meet the needs of homeless women around the state. It is helpful to note that travel size items are best for the backpacks, as women can add in any personal items into the space remaining in the backpack. For more information on how you can participate in this initiative, contact NEAHMA at: 781-380-4344.
Current needs include:
Gently used backpacks
Travel size soap, deodorant, shampoo, hand sanitizer
Feminine Products
Baggies, Travel size Kleenex, Travel size wipes
Small notepads, pens, bottled water
Gum and mints
