Tag Archives: 501c3

This Thing We Call Homelessness…..Part 1

20 Friday Jan 2012

Posted by in homelessness, Jehovah, Jesus, Nonprofit, Straight Ahead Outreach

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English: Homeless man, Tokyo. Français : Un sa...

Image via Wikipedia

1/20/2012

Homelessness, they are Men, Women, Elderly, Teens, Disabled and Children, even Newborns.  Maybe they are You.

The photo at left is evidently of a homeless disabled man in Tokyo.

Homelessness has been an issue since Bible times and who knows maybe even before that.   As it states in Deuteronomy 15, there will always be poor in the land.  So it simply is not something new that happened since the World Wars or anything like that.

The thing is we have made Homelessness way to complicated.  We have made it bigger then it is in fact.   We have forgot many things about it, why it exists and what should be done about it.

When did creating multi-million dollar nonprofits become the answer to dealing with Homelessness?

What happened to shift people from helping each other, their family, their neighbor, friend and stranger, …….. to saying, “let them go to the local nonprofit, mission shelter, soup kitchen” and we will hide behind our gates and walls.

When?  When did that shift happen?  You may not like the answer or agree with it, but it all happened at that very moment when Adam and Eve decided to disobey God and listen to satan, taking from the Tree of Knowledge.

If it was not for that very moment, literally, none of all this would be necessary.  None of it.  Not the trauma of Homelessness, not the worry of the poor, no nonprofits would have been needed, millions, no billions of dollars would not have had to be raised on behalf of Homelessness.  None of it.

So what am i saying?  Just Give Up on the issue?  No, no, not at all.  However, i am indeed saying we need to re-evaluate how we as a society, a World, handle Homelessness.

Recently, as i have seen in the news,  some churches have been sending letters to their members asking them to “participate” more in the church, “take an active part” or find a new place to go worship.  The reasoning is those who are not participating are placing too much of a burden on the churches.  I am confident this is not the first time this has been done.  At first i was a bit taken back, but then as i thought about it for the next 2 minutes, i realized it was going along with what i have been thinking on and  studying in the Bible a great deal lately.

Bottom-line is, God does not want us to sit idle, not participate.  But rather He expects and requires us to do quite the opposite.  He requires us to participate, to work hard.

At what?  At doing exactly what HE wants us to do and states in the Bible.  HE went to a great deal of effort and time to give us HIS rules/laws in the first five books of the Bible.  THEN, because we as man were not listening even STILL HE had to send Jesus to give his own life in order so we may have even MORE Tools to work with!  Another words to NOT BE IDLE.

Now, since most of us nonprofits who are helping the Homeless are in one way or the other Spiritual, Christian or of the like, this “should” make sense to you.  Although i still know many of you will scoff at this.

BTW, what i am stating here is not open for debate.  I am simply speaking what God has placed in my heart to speak.

I personally have had a very strong, close and what i call intense relationship with Jesus since about  1993.  I got to know Him very personally by doing the work He has given me to do over the last 26 or so years.  The thing is, i had gotten away from using the Bible to stay close to His Father Jehovah God also.  The short of it is, i started to study the Bible again in a different light, knowing what i know today opposed to what i knew even 15 years ago.  It has brought a whole new experience to me, with much more knowledge coming to me each day i read and meditate on it.  Especially the Old Testament….Where God, HIS anger, HIS Love, HIS Glory and laws are displayed and explained by HIM.  If you haven’t read the Old testament for some years, go back, pick it up and study, do not glance, but study on and meditate (think deeply) on the Old testament with the knowledge of life as you know it today.  I believe you will be surprised and maybe even ashamed as i was.

Annnnnd so as i often do i digress and ramble a bit :-))!  But it was sort of necessary.

I will continue this in This Thing We Call Homelessness Part 2….more to come

 

Lance Greene/Founder

Update on Miss Donna and her Impending Eviction…

11 Wednesday Jan 2012

Posted by in 501c3, Brain Injury, charities, Disabled, Disabled Homeless, Homeless, Oak Ridge TN, Walmart, WBIR

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1/11/2012

*** I want to make it very clear here,  that the staff (especially Heather) at the apartment complex where Donna has lived since August of 2008 have been exceptional in helping Donna and in helping Straight Ahead Outreach with Donna.  They have been priceless.

A Letter to ALL Young Gay Suicidals…..

17 Monday Oct 2011

Posted by in 501c3, Bullying, Feelings, Gay, Intervention, Jesus, LGBT, Nonprofit, Suicide, Suicide Intervention

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10/17/2011


Please.  Hear me for a few minutes.  First, please know, this i am saying is a fact…..i realize your world “seems” so dark, so cold, so lonely, so many things you cannot seem to count……But please know this….those whom are bullying you, harassing you and making you feel like your world is a dark place…….know this……..those who are bullying you are but simply a handful. 

There are myriads, millions of us out here who LOVE YOU, care about your life, your fears, your frustrations, your needs and desires, your hopes and dreams.  Millions of us.  Millions.

Please.  Do not hide from us. please do not clam up.  Give us, the Millions Who Care about YOU a chance.  Reach out to us, talk to us.   Let us give you some direction, some ideas, a different view, maybe see things from a different angle, some Hope.  The Millions Who Care are made up of straight people and gay people.  All different types of people, everywhere.  We are people maybe you would never think of or maybe even think the worst of.  

Give us a chance.  

You and your awesome energies are needed here on this earth.  Always.

You, you are creative and smart.  You are determined and have ambition. You know things….lots of things.   You, you are caring.

Let us care.  The Millions Who Care.  Don’t give up on us.   Give us the chance.  Reach out to us.  Look for us, find us.  We are everywhere you are.

We might be me, writing this letter to you.  We might be a teacher, a mother or father, sister or brother.  We might be a hardware store clerk, a UPS driver or taxi driver,  a police officer, fireman, doctor or ambulance driver.  We could be anybody.  Even Jesus or God, or whoever you may call him.  Please, do not under estimate us or assume we will shut you out.  Give us a shot.  Reach out to us and talk to us.  I know it will hurt a bit to reach out,  but i guarantee you will smile, even if just a little bit.   :-))!  See?

Those who are bullying, the handful of people, they steal your life from you.   If you feel they have…..reach out……talk…….you…….YOU, can Take Back Your Life.  You, can steal your life back!  

Please, do not look back…….do not think back………look Straight Ahead at what You want, focus on it, concentrate on it……..go for it and Take Back Your Life.  

Now come on……please……reach out…..give the Millions Who Care a chance.

We are simply everywhere.  

***Do you feel a tug in your chest when you see someone you think you could talk to but are afraid to?   That tug in your chest is telling you to do it, that it is the thing to do.  Go for it!  Reach out. 

Don’t Give up on us.  The Millions Who Care.  We might be sitting next to you right now.  

Smile :-))!  Even just a little.

Lance Greene/ Founder

Just Because….

01 Saturday Oct 2011

Posted by in 501c3, AMVETS, charities, Communities, Disabled, donate, homeless children, Homeless Families, homelessness, Intervention

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10/1/11

Just Because….

Just Because someone is Homeless and please keep in mind…..they could be a newborn infant child all the way to an elderly 85 year old female…..

Just Because they are Homeless does not mean they abuse alcohol and or drugs.

Give a Homeless person a chance today and help prevent Social Decay.

It could be You tomorrow.

Just Because…

30 Friday Sep 2011

Posted by in 501c3, charities, Communities, Families, Homeless, Homeless Families, homelessness, Intervention, Mobile Crisis, Nonprofit

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9/30/2011

Just Because…  Especially in todays world…

Just because someone is Homeless does not mean they do not want to work.

Give someone Homeless a job today.  Give them the chance.  Prevent Social decay for someone today.

It could be you tomorrow.

 

You R Kidding Me ….. Right Mr. President?

30 Friday Sep 2011

Posted by in 501c3, AMVETS, charities, Emergency Shelter, Homeless Families, homelessness, Mobile Crisis, Nonprofits, President Obama, Suicide Intervention

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9/30/2011

This is our America at Work.   You ARE Kidding me right Mr. President?

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/133/452/331/?z00m=20076595

Still In Need of Assistance – TAX DEDUCTIBLE

30 Friday Sep 2011

Posted by in 501c3, Auto Repairs, charities, Chevrolet, Clearwater FL, donate, Emergency Shelter, Ford, GMC, homelessness, Knoxville TN, Mobile Crisis, Nonprofit, St. Petersburg FL, Tampa Bay, Vans

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REPEATED POST – AS POSTED ON 9/22/2011

9/22/2011

Our Mobile Crisis Unit needs Your Help today.

2011 has just about brought Straight Ahead Outreach to the brink of ending its path of helping those in need.  We have not given up however, but we need YOUR help to continue even in the most minimal of ways.  We continue to help our Friends In Need as best we can.  Funds are simply non-existent.  We are a 501c3 nonprofit.  All donations are fully tax deductible under the 501c3 IRS Code.

Our Mobile Crisis van provides numerous benefits to those in need who we help in many ways. You can go to our WHAT and HOW pages here to see what all we do. The biggest value i see is our “Being There” for our Friends In Need when they need us most.  Its that look on their faces when we show up to provide them some relief, some Hope.  It is priceless.

We are needing your help to repair the transmission in our Our 1995 Chevrolet  Mobile Crisis van pictured above or to replace the van.  However, repair is fine as the engine in the van seems strong even with the 240,000 miles on it.   It is our only vehicle for Straight Ahead Outreach and actually mine and Pat’s only personal vehicle which we use for Straight Ahead Outreach activities.

1) $2000.00 = Funds Needed to repair & Rebuild Transmission, replace U-Joints and replace the rear-end differential pinion grease seal in our current van as pictured above.

2) $5000.00 = Funds needed to replace current van with a van like this pictured here ….

Please Help Today.  We realize it is difficult for you personally to see the Value in it for you.  I ask you please to see the Value Your Help provides to our Friends In Need.  That Value is realized when Straight Ahead Outreach is able to simply “Be There” at the right Time for one of our Friends In Need.   It is priceless.

Thank you, Lance Greene / Founder

If Not You, Then Who?

Plain and Simple Fact.

We rely on folks like You for funds.  Folks like You rely on folks like us to do the work.  

Knoxville TN – St. Petersburg FL – Clearwater FL – Tampa Bay FL areas

GMC, Chevrolet, Ford Vans work best for our activities.

Nonprofit, Secular Competition….

23 Friday Sep 2011

Posted by in 501c3, Atheists, Buddhist, charities, Emergency Shelter, Homeless Families, homelessness, Jesus, Nonprofit, Philanthropists

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9/23/2011

First, what are our Purposes as IRS Registered Nonprofits?  We all have them and they are registered with the IRS.  They all can be viewed by the General Public at any time.  Are our Purposes to Compete?  It seems to have come to a major $$$ competition in this homeless assistance world.  Shameful.  When everyone is so consumed with focusing on $$$ and the domino effect of money, what do you think happens?  People running the nonprofit lose focus on their Purpose.  Isn’t it, wasn’t it…. to Help the less fortunate, the underprivileged?  Or was it to see how much of the grants and donations coming down the pike could be had?

1985 – It was Winter. Minneapolis, MN. In the 80′s it meant lots of snow and lots of cold.  My ex-wife Judy and i decided to bring blankets to the homeless underneath the bridges and to the shelters in Minneapolis, MN.  We went to Kmart and bought cases of them.  It was her idea.  It grew into more.  It was in essence what started all of this i call Straight ahead Outreach (Taking Back Your life) inc.    

We did it with the intention, the desire to Help others, those who were sleeping outside in the cold, those in need, because we seen the need.    Period.

Fast forward to today, 9/23/2011.  It is now called Straight Ahead Outreach (Taking Back Your Life) Inc., myself and my fiance Pat operate it.  From 1985 to today the activities have increased and grew extensively.  We still have the same Purpose…. to Help those less fortunate, the underprivileged.

I, as Founder of Straight Ahead Outreach (Taking Back Your Life) Inc. have refused for a very long time, refused to Compete with other organizations for money/funds.  We simply Help those in need and worry about the money later.  When the money isn’t there, we find anyway possible to make a difference in that Friend In Needs life, no matter how big or small.   Anything to keep them moving “Straight Ahead”.

Why?   Because it is this.  Simply put, we have enough Competition coming from satan on a daily basis.  Our battle is with him, on Jesus’s behalf.  And we, Straight Ahead Outreach, in our efforts to assist those in need, our Friends In Need have enough to worry about, focusing on satan’s activities and battling him with Jesus’s weapons, competing with him to stay one step ahead of his antics.  Those battles or games as i like to call them are the only ones Straight Ahead Outreach competes in and wins mind you.    Not Secular Competitions.

We will NOT battle with or Compete with other organizations or be a part of that Competition.  Truth be told……Fact…….. as long as we are alive…..any of us……ALL of us…..we can still help others even without a dime in our pocket.  

Think of this:   If the World ended tomorrow, or in the next 5 minutes…..what would you do?   You would have no house, no car, no food, no nothing……nope not even money, beloved money……. would you still help someone in need?  How would you do it?

We provide Hope, Knowledge, Courage, Determination, and transform lives via Jesus’s strength and counsel.  satan doesn’t want that.  Therefore he competes with us to damage and delay our efforts with those we help.  satans competition is enough, more than enough…….there is no reason to add more competition to the fire.

All of the organizations who competed, put down and pushed out others to get your hands on the grants coming down the pike, the very ones being cut in the budgets now, today in this 2011……  Now what will you do?

Bottom-line, any organization who is truly organized either as a 501c3 or not to help those in need, less fortunate, the underprivileged is greatly in need of funds to operate, this is true including us here at Straight Ahead Outreach.

Once again,   Truth be told……Fact…….. as long as we are alive…..any of us……ALL of us…..we can still help others even without a dime in our pocket.

What is your Purpose? And are you focusing on it?

Today, like never before, due to satans greed, are we in need of the General Public, World Wide to aid in the battle against homelessness.  Governments Worldwide are making cuts and backing away,  so that will place the strain on orgs like ours who never have sought federal funding because those who have will be seeking more now from the General Public as they lose out on the funds that they competed for.  Do you see what i mean about the Competition?

What solution is there?  Wellll, Help, simply Help others as you think Jesus would in what ever manner you can, whether it be financially, physically or emotionally…but do something.  Anything.  But do not compete, do not do it for show.  Just do it to help, to make a difference, to make a dent in the strife that is rampant today. To put a dent in Social Decay.  There are millions of you out there right now that i read all the time on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and more that i always see saying….“I have always wanted to help”.   Well, Jesus has a message for you…. He is saying to you today……”It is TIME..Go do it.  Do you know me? If you do, then you will know what to do. Go do something today….help someone today….make me smile”.     I LOVE when He says stuff like that in that way!!  :-))!

Jesus is who we at Straight Ahead Outreach follow and subscribe to.  For those of you and with respect to those who do not subscribe to that way, i am also appealing to you.   Atheists…simply do good and help someone today of your choice, as that is how you are and your energies will be greatly appreciated.  Universalists, Buddhist etc…….It doesn’t matter if you are from a tribe deep in the rainforest which has not been discovered yet…..we are all in this together…..Helping others is “Universal”.…no matter what your Spirituality is or belief system is or language is, helping is simply Universal.  Please, Do it today.  It is TIME.

 Secular Competition.  It simply does not belong in this business of helping those less fortunate, the underprivileged.  It doesn’t belong in any nonprofits activities.  

Competition = Profit.       Nonprofit = “no profit”. 

Thank you ALL for stopping by,

Lance Greene/Founder

*** Straight Ahead Outreach’s Purpose as submitted to the IRS:  Purpose Clause: Straight Ahead Outreach (Taking Back Your Life) Inc. is organized exclusively for charitable purposes providing relief to the poor, underprivileged, distressed and depressed with a focus on the homeless and under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code. 

This Article can be applied World Wide….

23 Friday Sep 2011

Posted by in 501c3, Children, Communities, Community, Emergency Shelter, Families, homeless children, Homeless Families, homelessness, Philanthropists

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9/23/2011

I will let this article speak for itself……It can be applied to everywhere World Wide….it IS Reality…..It is Not Television.

http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/57723/Lack_of_funding_for_emergency_homeless_shelters_this_winter

Thank You to Dora Bromme for writing that article from the Sacramento Press.

 

 

Embarrassment is Pointless…..

09 Friday Sep 2011

Posted by in 501c3, Attitudes, charities, Clearwater FL, donate, donations, Embarrassment, Feelings, homelessness, Jesus, Knoxville TN, St. Petersburg FL, Straight Ahead Outreach, Tampa Bay

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9/9/2011

I get Daily Inspiration emails from Neale Donald Walsch  and i thought todays’ was especially great!

As received in my email from http://inspiremetext.com/Products/1001 of Neale Donald Walsch’s website.

On this day of your life, dear friend, I believe God wants you to know…

…that embarrassment is a pointless experience. You

have permission to abandon it.

 Replace it with self love and love of all others–and

love of the imperfections you imagine you see in both.

In truth, both are perfect in their ‘imperfection,’ for

‘imperfection’ merely means ‘incompletion.’

 So do not be embarrassed if you haven’t completed

graduate school yet. Rather, look forward to the

adventure of doing it.

 

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