28 Thursday Feb 2013
Posted in charity, Christianity, Employment, Homeless, Homeless Families and Children, Jobs, Mobile Crisis
Tags
I Want to take back My life, Providing Hope In Jesus' Name, Take Back Your Life, Taking Back Your life
This is the hair of a Mother of Six Young Children…..
Who just started her new job today and had a blast! :-))!
Relaxed, Empowered…..Excited.
Taking Back Her Life? ….Oh Yeah!
:-))!
09 Tuesday Oct 2012
Tags
10/9/2012
Ever Wonder……
What will “Just” $1.00 do???
For example it will literally provide 7.7 bottles of water to those in need.
Walmart or ALDI, water purchased at either one produces the same result.
YOUR $1.00 combined with everyone elses will help those in need greatly, probably more then you yourself will ever really know. It will help us help them along the path to what we call “Taking Back Your Life.”
Any amount will help. You may give more then $1.00, that is up to you. Anything you give will go towards providing a positive future and making a difference in the life of those in need.
$1.00, sometimes even 1 bottle of water, believe it or not will help empower someone to “Take Back Their Life.”
Will you help us?
We Thank You in advance :-))!
Lance Greene/Founder
17 Friday Aug 2012
Posted in charity, Christianity, Clearwater FL, homelessness, Mobile Crisis, Philanthopy
8/17/2012
STA’s Philosophy
We push hard. We push hard and fast. It works.
Typically when we first meet someone we ask a little about their predicament and then within minutes we are asking them about their spirituality and talking about Jesus on some level.
We determine what they need and what we can or cannot do for them.
We discuss and address their history a bit.
Once we determine that they want our help. We push harder.
We back off when we need to and then push them again.
I always explain to each person we enter into assisting that at some point they will end up not liking us because of the difficult issues we approach and push them to deal with, to manage. 100% of the time they say….”Awww, thats not true.” :-))!
We mentor, coach, listen, talk talk talk and talk. We do whatever it takes.
Sooner or later at some point, the individual in need gets very mad, angry and frustrated. That is our goal. We want them to get mad, very mad. Mad at themselves or me or STA for that matter. Mad at the predicament they are in. Mad enough to get them to now push themselves, to push themselves hard. Mad at satan. Over him. Unwilling to put up with his antics any longer.
To push themselves hard to prove to STA that we are wrong and they WILL get back on their feet, off the streets and that they do NOT need STA, that they do NOT need our help or anyone elses!
:-))! Are you getting this yet? Do you see where it is going?
They will soon get mad at us and tell us verbally, literally to our faces that we are wrong about what we are telling them and that “they will prove to us that they can do it themselves”. Soon they find themselves making the moves to strike out on their own, know and trust that Jesus is there with them and Take Back Their Life, their way. As the person they are, as the person they should be. That they did it on their own. Remember, they are people. Just like you and I. They have rights and they have a right to dignity and a life. We simply want them to want it…NOW.
You see, STA does not treat a person as they are, STA treats them as the person they could be, so that they will soon become who they should be.
Treat a Person As They Are, and They Will Remain As They Are.
Treat Them As They Could Be, & They Will Become What They Should Be.
(Credit: @PhilReinhardt on Twitter)
So, once those in need whom we are helping have reached the point of being so mad at us that they are ready to “Prove Us Wrong” and show us they do not need our help…………
That is when, simply, We know we have done our job. We know now that Jesus will now take over and do His job with His Lost Sheep that we returned to Him.
Prove Us Wrong? You mean prove Us Wrong and “Take Back Your Life?”
AWESOME! STA has then done its job. We LOVE being proved wrong by those we help.
They can prove us wrong every single day if they want to!
:-))!
Lance Greene/Founder
09 Thursday Aug 2012
Posted in Babies, charity, Christianity, Family, homelessness, Housing, Mobile Crisis, St. Petersburg FL
Tags
Born Into Homelessness, donate, From Homeless to Housing, homelessness, Jesus Christ Son of God, Take Back Your Life
8/9/2012 (updated 9/11/2012)
August 2012
No Longer Homeless, In their new home.
Will You please Help STA help them stay there for a long time?
Ok, well if you read my blog here enough, you are aware that i do not typically like to post photos of the people in need that we assist.
Today, i will make an exception. This family is fully aware i am posting this. The photos at left are from last May 2011 when Baby Gracelyn was born in St. Petersburg, FL. I will attempt to get new ones soon. Her parents are Rubin and Annise, both are pictured here. I asked them both if i could post pics of them and tell a story in an effort to raise funds for them. So, here we go.
I was introduced to Rubin and Annise last year in February 2011 by a family member of Annise’s. On May 23rd, baby Gracie was born. Today, baby Gracie is soooo danged cute and talkative! I will get an updated pic of her as soon as i am able.
Without going into a lot of personal details, it is suffice to say Rubin, Annise and baby Gracie have been through a lot in the last year and a half. They have been literally homeless, living in places any person should not have to be. Are they different then many hundreds of thousands of others out there who have been or are homeless? No. They simply happen to be someone we have been involved with and care about, and so i am writing on behalf of them.
As i stated, they have been homeless for the entire time we have known them. Homeless in the way that they have not had a “proper” home to live in, although they did have some shelter.
STA has assisted this young family in numerous ways. This young family has worked extremely hard to keep moving their lives…yep, i am going to say it………Straight Ahead. They are working extremely hard at ”Taking back Their Lives”. It is by faith in God and His Son Jesus that they are moving Straight Ahead. Literally.
They have had issues of course. Who hasn’t? It has been tough for them, real tough. They have split a few times, but gotten back together and are together now.
Last week, they all moved into a regular three bedroom house in St. Petersburg, FL……WITH a refrigerator AND central air conditioning and even a washer and dryer so they can do their laundry easily! Whoooo Hoooos all around! As the Father, Rubin put it…. ”Mr. Lance, we have gone from Hell to Heaven!”
Here are some photos below from when we went to visit them this August 2012 in their new house they are renting with other family members. Mind you, this is 1.5 years after we met them, Baby Gracie is growin! What a cutie and Mom and Dad are looking great too!
(Annise, Rubin and Baby Gracie) (Mom & Dad looking great!)
When they called me to tell me about their blessings from Jesus they were soooo excited and we are just as excited for them. We brought them groceries, a small dresser and a new cord for their dryer.
**Funny thing, the Mom/wife, Annise is texting me right now as i write this telling me that i need to come over this week for some ice cream and that she is on her way to work!!!! WHAAAAAT? Work??? AWESOME!!! NOW, THATS the kind of call i like! Ice cream????? Whaaaat? I am going for sure!!! :-))! The other calls have been for emergencies!
I could go on and on….but after Annises text to me, i am now very very distracted! In a good way! :-))!
The Dad/Husband still needs to locate work, but is trying. This family is still not out of the woods yet. But they are working hard to make it happen. They are trying to stay positive and remain strong in their faith. They are indeed fighting to ….yep….here it is…….“TAKE BACK THEIR LIFE”.
***What i would like to do is raise some funds for them. Funds enough to keep them going in this house for a while so they can breathe a little. So they can relax and enjoy themselves and each other for a bit. So they can build on their relationship and their family. So they do not have the constant stresses of the streets like they are used to.
They are good people. They are fun people. They believe in Jesus and are trying to do their part in the battle with satan.
Will you help us help them today please? When you make your donation, please indicate in the note field that it is for “Baby Gracie Family” and STA will donate 100% of those funds, every penny of it (none to fuel or anything else for STA) directly to this young family so they can have more Hope of succeeding!
Please Donate today, Now would be Awesome! Thank you!
:-))!
Lance Greene/Founder
17 Thursday May 2012
Posted in 501c3, charities, Chevrolet, Christianity, Clearwater FL, Donors and Donations, Fundraising, homelessness
Tags
Chevrolet Outreach Van, Donation Made Repair Possible, Homeless Outreach, How Can I Help, In Jesus's Name, Mobile Crisis Outreach Van, Take Back Your Life, Tax deductions
5/17/2012
Now here is a view that i LOVE!!
That view my friends, is the view from the drivers seat of my wife Pat and mine personal 1995 Chevrolet Cargo van. It is the van we use for literally ALL of our Straight Ahead Outreach-Taking Back Your Life Inc. (STA) activities. The transmission failed on it last September 2011 and has been down ever since, until last week. That is until a generous donor mailed us a check for $1000.00 towards the repair of the transmission. He wanted to see us get “Back On The Road Again” as he put it. The total repairs cost us $1563.00 at a local transmission shop here in St. Petersburg, Florida called American Transmission of Pinellas Inc. They were fair and very efficient, getting us back on the road quickly.
CELEBRATE INDEED! :-))! Not in a party sort of way, but in a WOW! We Can Work Again! sort of way. Again, smiles….:-))! :-))! :-))!
In addition to this donation we took out a loan of $600.00 to help cover the balance of the repair. All in all, everything turned out excellent and STA is indeed “Back On The Road Again!”.
Another favorite view of mine :-))!
Our Outreach Van is an integral part of what we do as STA. It is one of our most important tools. Without it, i personally feel lost. With it, we are able to get an extreme amount of things accomplished. We will still do outreach activities on our bicycle too however as it helps to save on fuel.
The value of this van to STA far outweighs its resale value. 238,000 miles on it and now able to work again!
Words cannot describe how excited we are to have the van back and the appreciation we feel to this recent donor. I am hoping we will get a chance to return the favor…… :-))!
Last year we received a $750.00 donation to help pay towards the insurance on the van from another generous donor. Another extremely generous and stress relieving donation.
These types of donations are sorely needed to help STA continue its work helping others. Monthly donations are greatly appreciated. (no mt)
We have a small handful of donors like these who help STA as they can. We would appreciate new donors to help our current donors in making a difference.
Can You come on board and help with even a $1.00, $5.00 or $15.00 Donation please? Will You help us to continue our work today? If you can please click on the PayPal Secure Donate button below.
Another way to help is to donate Gift Cards for Fuel Stations, Grocery Stores, Department Stores and Restaurants. please see our Contact page for mailing address.
Before i leave, i would like to once again make our appreciation very clear to our recent donor for their $1000.00 donation to repair our Outreach Vans transmission. This donation does more then simply “repair” the van. Your donation has provided much needed piece of mind and relieved a great deal of stress for both myself and Pat. We Thank You in Jesus’s name.
Let it be You Today!
Thank You!
Lance Greene/Founder
28 Tuesday Jun 2011
Posted in charity, Christianity, Clearwater FL, donate, homelessness, Intervention, Jesus, Mobile Crisis
Tags
Clearwater FL, donate, homelessness, hope, Jesus, Mobile Crisis Outreach, Straight Ahead Outreach, Take Back Your Life
6/28/2011
I am going to ask for the umpteen-millionth time for Jesus and His Angels help on these two stories.
I am asking What Would You Do? I am asking mainly because i want you to think about it. Picture it. I know what we are going to do. Problem is we do not have the monies to do what we need to do. Simple, Basic fact. It bothers me to my core. But i/we will still do a great deal. I will meet with them today and spend as much time as it takes to figure some scenarios out. The good thing, really good thing is both Friends In Need are close to us so i can get to them easily now that i got our van repaired this weekend :-))!
1) The water pump went on our Mobile Crisis/Intervention van last Tuesday or so and i limped it through Saturday morning. It is our only vehicle, so as i was in the middle of the repair, i needed to take a taxi to get a needed part. The driver and i began talking and i asked questions as i always do. Turns out he is homeless and sleeping in his taxi. I asked him….”How or where do you take showers?” He stated he doesn’t really but goes to a 24 hour laundromat and bathes at the sink. That kills me. It just always does no matter how long i have done this work. I wish we had our own facility to take our Friends In Need. Anyway, turns out he spent 5 years in Minnesota, where i am from as a mechanic. Long story short, he needs a different, better job and someplace to call home. He moved here to Florida from Louisiana and just cannot get himself going. So, we will put him in touch with a facility to get showers at the very least, help him locate a new job and place to live eventually. He needs a place right now though. No alcohol or drug issues. But there is a weight/health issue of which he has a good attitude about changing. ***UPDATE 2:00pm same day–Wow, Jesus answered quick on this one! Already getting a little help for this 62 year old female from a family members friend. More info to come later today…….
2) The taxi driver then referred a 62-year-old homeless female to us and she called me early this morning. She is staying in a Motel about 2 miles from us which St. Vincent De Paul and Light of Christ Church in Clearwater, FL paid for one week for her. She must pay for another week or be out tomorrow morning by 11am. She states she is an alcoholic, wine & beer are her choice of alcohol. She states she has not drank for two weeks. Her voice is clear, she sounds like a smart person. She is a Friend In Need. We will do what we can. We come from a much different angle than most other orgs. You see, we try to get our Friends In Need Up & OUT of what we call the Chronic Assistance Cycle. Even away from needing us. ASAP. For Their benefit. I asked her how many orgs she thinks she has been to since January. She couldn’t remember but thought maybe at least 10. You see, to us that is simply unacceptable as it traps our Friends In Need, whether they be homeless or YOUR neighbor in the Chronic Assistance Cycle and without the proper amount of extensive time and energies put into them, they stay right where they are. Homeless. Scared. Lost. I meet with her at 2pm today. To get more of her story. I have enough already to tell you the truth. I will offer direction, make an attempt to place her in a couple different scenarios, one of which she will not care for but may be the best for her. What would i like to do?? For now, simply keep her in this motel while we work with her to keep her on track moving Straight Ahead to Take Back Her Life.
There are many, too many. There are many right under even your nose, in your neighborhood or within blocks of it. Many, endless actually.
What Would You Do? Refer them to someone else maybe? Would you help them yourself? And if so, how would you do it or back up what you got the Friend In Need to agree to if you had no funds to work with? How would you transport them anywhere if you had no funds for fuel? How would you feed them a proper, key word…..proper meal if you do not have the funds to do so? Keep in mind, this is one on one. Time. You must spend extensive time and energies listening, directing/guiding, transporting and providing many services each and every time you are with your Friends In Need.
It takes extensive funds, as much as i hate to say it, it just does. A nonprofit has all the same expenses as a for profit company does and more.
Please, ok yes, i am begging you……yep, begging…….please Donate to us Today, Now to help us help others. If needed, What Can We Do For You in return for your help? Seriously, What Can We Do For You?
If Not You, Then Who?
WE THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!
Thank You!
Lance Greene/Founder
06 Friday May 2011
Posted in 501c3, Abandoned, attitude, Build, Change, charities, charity, disability, Disabled, donate, donations, Donors, Emergency, friends in need, Fundraisers, Fundraising, Homeless, Homeless Crisis, Homelesscrisis, homelessness, Intervention, Jesus, Mobile Crisis, Philanthropists, Police, Positive, Positive Attitude, Suicidal, Suicide Intervention, Uncategorized, Urgency
Tags
501c3, disabled, donate, donations, Emergency, friends in need, Fundraising, homelessness, hope, Mobile Crisis, Prevent, Straight Ahead Outreach, Take Back Your Life
Pictured above you will see one of our Friends In Need, Miss Donna. We have assisted her since May 2008 when we first met her, through another one of our Friends In Need while Donna was living on the streets of Knoxville in her wheelchair.
We are needing to raise Emergency Funds for our Showers of Hope Mobile Crisis/Intervention Unit (pictured above) to drive from St. Petersburg, FL. to Oak Ridge, TN., 720 miles one way, stay for two weeks and return to St. Petersburg, FL.
We have an emergency situation now with Miss Donna as she has been given a warning of eviction by the property management where she lives. The management have been extremely awesome where Donna lives, they have been more than wonderful to Donna. If they are forced to evict her she will once again be on the streets homeless. We want to prevent that.
I, Lance Greene, Founder of Straight Ahead Outreach (Taking Back Your Life) Inc. (STA) will personally drive in our Showers of Hope Mobile Crisis/Intervention Unit pictured above to go spend some quality time with Miss Donna and get her calmed down a bit, get her to see her Doctor, get her electric wheelchair repaired and purchase personal needs/incidentals and food for her. While i am in the Oak Ridge/Knoxville area i will also take time to see some of our other Friends In Need within the City of Knoxville, TN.
Our GOAL is to raise: $2700.00 for a two-week trip to Oak Ridge, TN. to help the apartment complex deal with some issues with Miss Donna, so they do not have to. You may Donate by clicking on the Donate Button by each item listed. Any dollar amount helps, but please, we need it now, Today. Please, this must happen very quickly so we may try to prevent Miss Donna from getting evicted and becoming homeless once again. She has lived here in this apartment since we placed her there in 2008. The following are the needs for this trip, we Thank You in advance and ALL monies will go directly to help Miss Donna. Your donations are tax-deductible as we are a 501c3 registered nonprofit.
1) Gasoline: $550.00
2) Motel/2 weeks: $500.00 Vista Inn of Oak Ridge
3) Rental Car/2 weeks: $500.00 ** (This is due to the fact we will be taking our only vehicle on the road and need a vehicle for St. Petersburg while the van is gone. Enterprise Car rental.
4) Emergency Repairs on the road: $200.00
5) Food for 2 weeks @ $20/day: $300.00
6) Incidentals/Personal items & Groceries for Miss Donna $500.00
7) Wheelchair ramp needed for Mobile Crisis unit: $150.00
TOTAL GOAL = $2700.00
If Not YOU, Then Who?
You may call me anytime if you have any questions or concerns about the funds you donate. 865-964-1461
Thank You!
Lance Greene/Founder – Cell: 865-964-1461
28 Thursday Apr 2011
Tags
community deterioration, Emotional Decay, homeless families, Jehovah God Almighty, Jesus Christ Son of God, Providing Hope In Jesus's name, Take Back Your Life
Thursday April 28th, 2011
In our header photo above for today Thursday 4/28/11 you see a family depicted. This was the header photo of the day>>>
We are seeing such a massive breakdown in families today, which in turn creates children and then adult children who are severely misguided and lost, with ideals so confused and twisted they subconsciously give up.
We at Straight Ahead Outreach (Taking Back Your Life) Inc. (STA), via our Mobile Crisis Outreach Unit strive to prevent this. If we cannot prevent it, then we Hope to be there to pick up the pieces and put them all back together.
To view our definitions of how we view Mobile Crisis/Intervention please go to our CRISIS page here on our website.
:-))!
18 Monday Apr 2011
Posted in 501c3, Abandoned, abandoned newborns, attitude, Build, Change, charities, charity, disability, Disabled, donate, donations, Donors, friends in need, Fundraisers, Fundraising, Homeless, homelessness, Intervention, Mobile Crisis, Philanthropists, Police, Positive, Positive Attitude, Suicidal, Suicide Intervention, Urgency
Tags
501c3, abandoned newborns, charity, Children, community deterioration, depression, disability, Divine, donate, friends in need, Homeless, homelessness, No, Suicide Intervention, Take Back Your Life, Yes
4-18-11
In Today’s Header above you will see Monday’s image for 4-18-11. We have begun our new New Fresh Attitude and Approach and this is the second Header Photo in that process. There will be a new image and a new blog about that image every Monday & Thursday.
The header you see says the word YES. In short, this depicts a couple of things.
1) The answer should not always be “No.”
2) The YES, means YES, WE CAN Take Back Our lives.
How? Acknowledge, and Make the Decision. Today.
:-))!
