When Jahkil Jackson was 8 years old, he helped his aunt distribute food to homeless people in Chicago. He was touched by the experience and wanted to keep helping these folks. He made what he called “Blessing Bags,” and filled them with wipes, socks, soap, deodorant, hand sanitizer, granola bars, a toothbrush, and toothpaste. He brought a few of these to a local homeless shelter, and the recipients were incredibly grateful.
That was two years ago. Since then, Jahkil's idea has blossomed into Project I Am. Partnering with local agencies and schools, Project I Am has filled and distributed over 5000 Blessing Bags to Chicago's homeless. They have also filled bags for hurricane victims in Florida and for orphans in Swaziland. Now 10-years-old, Jahkil's hope is to fill and distribute 6000 bags in 2018.
Amazing, how one kid's good heart can touch so many people in need.
Jessica Bell was on the Chicago subway Friday night on her way home from work. The attorney and advocate witnessed a spontaneous act of kindness which brought tears to her eyes. She snapped a quick cell phone photo and shared it on Facebook.
It seems two men sat across from each other in the same subway car as Jessica. One, apparently homeless, was older, and his worn sneakers were folded down in the back so they could slip on and off like a pair of bedroom slippers. Jessica noticed he wore several pairs of socks, limited help against the cold Chicago winter.
The man sitting across from him, later identified as Maurice Anderson, was younger. Not only was he dressed for the weather, he carried a suitcase containing a weekend worth of clothing. Bell reported that, before she could really register what was happening, Anderson asked the older man what size shoes he wore. Twelve, came the answer. So Anderson unlaced his own heavy black boots, size 12-1/2, and gave them to the man. From his suitcase, he pulled out a spare pair of shoes and slipped them on his own feet. Before he left the train, he gave the older man an extra pair of socks, too.
Bell documented the kindness, and tracked Anderson down to thank him for his generosity. She later told reporters, “The reason I posted about Maurice is because we’ve all given, or see people give food, or money to the homeless. But I have never seen someone give the clothes off their back so unselfishly and so humbly.”
When Jahkil Jackson was 8 years old, he helped his aunt distribute food to homeless people in Chicago. He was touched by the experience and wanted to keep helping these folks. He made what he called “Blessing Bags,” and filled them with wipes, socks, soap, deodorant, hand sanitizer, granola bars, a toothbrush, and toothpaste. He brought a few of these to a local homeless shelter, and the recipients were incredibly grateful.
