Jake Austin was a volunteer handing out toiletries to the homeless. One day, a homeless man commented that he had nowhere to use the shampoo he was given, and that’s when Jake had an idea:
Looking around, Jake spotted the truck being used to hand out hot meals and had a moment of insight: Why couldn’t they do the same for showers? It took two years of research and development to turn that idea into reality, but now Shower to the People! is providing a unique and innovative service that provides the homeless community around St. Louis, Missouri, with a lot more than a bar of soap. Jake had the idea. All he was lacking was a truck, supplies, technical skills, and something called money.
Funded by donations through social media, Jake started Shower to the People, a non profit organization that delivers showers to the homeless in a modified delivery truck. Jake says:
This is about homelessness, their needs have long been overlooked. Shower to the People started with the simple notion that clean people are happier, healthier, and more hopeful. When you step out of a hot shower you feel like a million bucks. Most people who live on the streets live day to day with, not only a lack of access to a shower, but to the confidence it provides.
We think this is a group that Pope Francis would love, considering he has been working on a similar set-up in Rome.
Cheers to Jake and all the people who donated to make this wonderful organization possible. They hope to have 20 trucks providing this service across the country by 2020 and to this we say WOW.
You can click here to find more information about Shower to the People.
[Editor’s Note: Read more – Mobile Hair Salon Offers “Beauty in Transition” for Homeless People]
And today we celebrate...