Brotherly Love: A Commuter Changing Lives
by Ukee Washington
A Montgomery County commuter who sees homeless people almost every day decided she wanted to help, personally. So now, she stops to deliver clothing and supplies to people, and she's encouraging other people to do the same.
Kimberly MacIntosh is surrounded by bags and stacks of clothes. It's hard to believe her project started only about two weeks ago, once you see how much has already been collected.
Every item of clothing is going to a homeless person. She got the idea commuting through Suburban Station.
"It bothered me having to pass those people by and go to work. [I was] cold with a coat on, and I thought, 'There has to be something I can do,'" Kimberly said.
So she started carrying as many clothes as she could and giving them away to the needy face-to-face.
"The first woman I gave it to, she had the biggest smile on her face," Kimberly said. "And my hands were trembling. I was nervous and excited, and I didn't know how things were going to go. And after that, I was hooked."
Richard Steplight has received items from Kimberly. He said, "When I first got out here on the streets, I had a lot of stuff stolen. She's been helpful for a lot of people out here."
A few weeks ago Kimberly, who goes by Kimmy, started a Facebook group asking others to do the same and donate to the cause at a variety of drop-off locations.
And boy, have people delivered: coats, hats, gloves, and more to hand out to the homeless. She calls it "The Help the Homeless People Winter Project for Everyday People."
Amber MacIntosh, 8, said, "It'll make them smile and make them feel warmer for this winter and help them stay healthy."
Volunteers such as John Long are driving some donations to homeless shelters. "It's very rewarding to be able to get that stuff out there," John said.
A woman Kimmy didn't even know, Carolyn Anastasi, offered to store some in her home.
"It's a worthy cause," Carolyn said. "But keep the responses coming, because there's a lot of people out there that we still aren't able to reach."
That's not discouraging Kimmy and the other volunteers from trying to reach as many as they can, one person at a time.
One of their biggest needs is new underwear.
Kimmy and other volunteers are hosting a distribution day Saturday, weather permitting. Their snow date is January 30. They would love volunteers to help sort.
Their Facebook page is nicknamed "A Kimmy Idea." Find it by clicking here.