Why The Rucksack Event?

I get asked this a lot.  Why did you pick this specific event to support, what made you want to help the homeless and how did it start?  It isn’t a hidden agenda question I’m sure, it isn’t one I’m shy about - but it is always a tricky one to answer!

 

So the long and short of it is for me, why wouldn’t I?  I’m a people person and I can’t stand to think of people being less fortunate than others and being deprived of things we take for granted, even if it is something as little as daily conversation.  I am a person who’s always wanted to help others; I want to help people, I want to help animals, I want to help everyone.  I do have a sense of injustice in the World about lots of issues and it does make me very upset if I think about it all for too long!

 

I discovered the Rucksack Project when I was looking for some way to give something back to the community over Christmas a few years ago.  I had heard of the shoe box appeal before and other things like that, also buying a service person a gift and posting to a far flung land to ensure they knew they weren’t forgotten at Christmas; but I wanted to do something local as well.  Low and behold my google search turned up the Rucksack Project and I’ve been hooked ever since!  We took part in the first event in 2012 and since then I’ve been helping out Jo to organise and hold an event in Portsmouth.

 

Why do I want to help the homeless?  I work in housing and have done for a long time; all different areas of housing from estate agency to conveyancing to social housing; so I guess housing is a bit of a passion of mine.  I’ve looked at it from all aspects and I guess I just truly believe everyone deserves somewhere to call home.  

I’m also passionate about treating everyone with kindness, I was once told by a small African boy (or 20!) that ‘it’s nice to be nice’ – and do you know what - it certainly is.  I’ve always stopped and spoken to a homeless person, given some change, or bought a person something to eat or drink.  Even stopping just to chat to a homeless person, simply just saying good morning or afternoon on the way past them.  Homeless people aren’t scary, they aren’t the world’s unwashed to be avoided, they are people just like you and me who are down on their luck and they are the kind of people who are desperately in need of some kindness.

People are homeless for many reasons, (and this includes those who aren’t street homeless – there are sofa surfers amongst the numbers counted also) and whatever these reasons, you should try not to pass judgement.  There is the old adage that we are all only a pay check away from homelessness.  Given the instability of the economy, possible Brexit effects, large amounts of credit owed across the UK etc – this is very true.  The simple act of a job loss due to no fault of your own, could lead to much bigger and very serious problems.  This is always worth bearing in mind.

 

The other thing people always ask me is, ‘what would you do if the person you give money to wastes it on alcohol’, well wouldn’t that just be a disgusting thing for them to do?  I must admit, it is one of the reasons I always try to give things other than money, I tend to go for clothes/food/Greggs gift vouchers (there are occasions when I’ve had nothing in my handbag other than a packet of tissues and some non-alcohol antiseptic hand gel and I’ve given that away too).  But on the other hand – who am I to judge.  If that can of beer will help them get through the next hour/day/night then really, why should I get to pass judgement on that while sitting in my nice cosy warm home.  In my opinion it is absolutely no reason not to give to the homeless or not to talk to them, in fear they may have a drink.  I have a drink most weekends – it doesn’t make me a bad person.  I am not going to change the way people spend their money, whether they are homeless or not. 

 

The last question I get asked is – why should people get involved?  Well simply because isn’t it the best Christmas gift you could give?  Isn’t it worthwhile spending your hard earned money in a charity shop to give something to someone who it will mean the world to, rather than buying more useless gifts your family don’t want?  Isn’t it worth educating your children about the issue of homelessness?  If there is something you can be involved in, even once a year – make it worthwhile, make it local and make it for your community.  

 

If you have nothing to give, y’know – that’s absolutely fine too.  But maybe think about your time of day, that is certainly something you could give for free – or even an acknowledgement.  For me and my family, the rucksack event goes on all year round and not just at Christmas.  We have a standing joke that my hubby loses all sorts of items of clothing on nights out – I will give away hats/scarfs/gloves etc without a second thought – me (or him) cold for a few hours vs someone staying warm out on the streets on a bitterly cold night, no contest!

 

If you have any other questions - please don't hesitate to ask!

TTFN, Sammy xx