Nothing to do with cameras...

Growing up in Chicago, you cannot ignore the plight of homeless people. My father was a Chicago policeman, and was very involved in helping the needy when I was a kid. He used to take me with him to his part-time jobs helping out. I'd play on the office equipment and get to meet all kinds of different people, including the homeless. I used to wonder why my mother hated them so much - they seemed really nice to me.

In my early twenties, I lived on the South Side near Midway airport and worked downtown. Every day I would take Cicero to I55, which is a popular spot for panhandlers. I was always afraid to donate anything because my father had taught me as a young girl to be cautious underneath highway overpasses, but I couldn't help but notice the signs of the homeless people. Heartbreaking. I instead donated to Streetwise, a newspaper that pays homeless people to hand out papers. To this day that underpass is still overcrowded with the homeless.

I worked in Lincoln Park for a while, and there was a homeless couple who lived in the parking garage where the employees parked our cars. My co-worker and I would bring them lunch every day. Then they abruptly disappeared. I never found out what happened to them.

I also worked in the Loop in downtown Chicago for many years, where there are homeless people on pretty much every corner. You start to wonder how you can actually help anybody, there are so many. I gave my lunch away many times, but does that actually do anything? I don't have a lot of money, how can my little bit help?

Well these guys have found a way. I read about Tim this morning, and I am so happy that somebody has actually found a new way to bring attention to the plight of the homeless.

Let's use the interwebs for good, people! Donate!