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Day 49 Whatever you do, don't stop!

49 DAYS ago, I made a commitment to help four Title 1 schools raise uniforms to assist students who struggle with resources in their closets throughout the school year. To do this, I have given away ever article of clothing I own, and only left myself one outfit to walk in the shoes of many students that wear the same thing every single day.

However, today I am tired… I have been wearing this one outfit to every single thing: I’ve worn it to workout, to meetings, to work, to sleep (once or twice), on trips, etc. Although, this outfit has grown on me, it is scary looking forward. I don’t know if we will raise the other 200 uniforms needed by the end of July and I don’t know where or how I will replace the clothes that I gave away.

It really is a very unique journey, and one of the most challenging I have had to endure!

However, I keep asking myself, “Is it worth it?” And honestly, the only answer I could come up with is–YES! It is because this will start a resource closet to service four under resourced schools.

I don’t know how this will come together over the next 41 DAYS, but I definitely have a “don’t stop mentality.” What is a don’t stop mentality? It contains three specific things:

1) Big picture reflection – This keeps you focused on the entire picture at large. When you are focused, this helps you maintain a right perspective on your journey.

2) Small celebrations – This allows you to celebrate where you are, and what you have been able to accomplish toward the bigger picture.

3) Focused solutions – This allows you to remain focused on the needs that you are priviledged to serve.

Wherever you are, whatever project you have going on…. join me in refusing to stop! Stay focused, and have a resolve to go the distance.

If you would like to know how you could contribute, read [HERE]LBW-UniformDonationsLATL

Terence

Days 41-42 Three Schools Left…

Today makes 42 days in one outfit. That’s 1,008 hours! So, far we’ve collected enough uniforms to cover one school… Help us collect enough to resource three more schools… I have 48 more days to go… Can’t wait to share this journey with all the students we help… 

Here is a picture of the uniform that I have worn all these days…

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If you are interested in helping, below you’ll find the schools we are adopting, and the supplies that are needed to resource these schools:

SIZES

small (6-8)

medium (10-12)

large (14-16)

SCHOOLS

Mt Zion Primary (50 uniforms pledged)

PreK- Yellow polo style shirts

K5-Green polo style shirts

1st grade-Red polo style shirts

2nd grade-Navy polo style shirts

Pants/Bottoms: Khaki, navy, or black

EJ Swint Elementary  (50 uniforms needed)

Tops: button down or polo style-white,

Bottoms: Khaki or dress pants style, shorts or skirts-khaki, blue, black color

Fountain Elementary (50 uniforms needed)

Tops: Polo style or button down style—yellow, gold, blue, or white

Pants, shorts, skirts: khaki, blue

Riverdale Elementary (50 uniforms needed)

Tops: Polo style with collar–Red, black, white, navy blue

Pants, skirts, skorts, knee length shorts: Khaki, black, dark blue

Also, if you are interested in learning where you can drop these items off, read [HERE] 

LBW-UniformDonationsLATL

Terence

Days 35-39 Uniforms Coming In…

This is what I’ve been sacrificing for… Today, the founder of the Purple Phoenix Project (a domestic violence awareness organization) dropped off the first 4 donated uniforms for the 4 schools #lovebeyondwalls is partnering with to provide closets for students this coming school year. If you would like to learn more, read one of our most recent blogs about why we are doing what we are doing [HERE]!

This excites me so much! Why? Because this proves that sacrifice helps others…God sacrificed for ALL of humanity, and I am just crazy enough to follow God’s lead. Therefore, I gave up my closet so kids can have one! DAY 39 is inspirational. Why? Because uniforms are starting to come in for kids who lack resources in their closets… First 4 donated uniforms… 246 to go! #closetstrike

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Terence

DAY 31 & The Uniform Collection Begins

Today is DAY 31 in one outfit!

For the last thirty days I have only worn one outfit… Why? Because I decided to give up my closet so four Title 1 Schools who have students who struggle with their closets can have one! This is not a stunt, or some type of gimmick… I’m doing this because I encountered tons of kids who wear the same thing every single day because their families live in poverty. Therefore, I vowed to myself that not only will I walk in the shoes of these kids, but I would do something that benefit the schools that have students who struggle with this issue.

Many people know that Title 1 Elementary Schools require their students to wear uniforms….Therefore, #lovebeyondwalls is going to do something about it…

I, Terence have not only given up every single article of clothing I own, but for the next 60 days, I am rallying people to help us collect tons of uniforms (new or slightly used) to help several Elementary Schools, and to build closets for these schools…

How can you get involved? Simple. You can drop off  any of the items below at several of our drop-off locations, or you can give monetarily [HERE]100% of your giving goes directly to uniforms. Our goals is to furnish each of these schools with 50 uniforms a piece.

Below are the schools, there colors, sizes, and the drop-off locations you can bring them to:

SIZES

small (6-8)

medium (10-12)

large (14-16)

SCHOOLS

Mt Zion Primary 

PreK- Yellow polo style shirts

K5-Green polo style shirts

1st grade-Red polo style shirts

2nd grade-Navy polo style shirts

Pants/Bottoms: Khaki, navy, or black

EJ Swint Elementary 

Tops: button down or polo style-white,

Bottoms: Khaki or dress pants style, shorts or skirts-khaki, blue, black color

Fountain Elementary

Tops: Polo style or button down style—yellow, gold, blue, or white

Pants, shorts, skirts: khaki, blue

Riverdale Elementary

Tops: Polo style with collar–Red, black, white, navy blue

Pants, skirts, skorts, knee length shorts: Khaki, black, dark blue

LBW-UniformDonationsTerence

Days 26-27 Love Boxes in College Park!

Last week, we got a chance to partner with Warehouse of Hope, and provide groceries for 30 elderly residents that live in College Park’s Housing Authority community!

cp

We were amazed at the number of residents who are past retirement age that live in this community who struggle with food resources. We are looking to service 60 families (residents) a month who lack resources and means to purchase food. Why are we doing this? Simple to provide love, hope, and food to people where they are. It was good to pray with, love on, and show people that God is real and does love them.

It was a great experience to see that people who lacked resources get encouraged the through the gift of food!

Love-Boxes

Terence

Days 22-25 Love Pittsburgh

Today, is day 25 in one outfit! I’m literally thinking about so many now, but nothing more that helping the communities, families, and children that God will bring us before. On my 31st, I’ll release a series of videos explaining in depth how this campaign #closetstrike will benefit many schools and students!

One great event we having coming up is a partnership with the Salvation Army & It’s Just A Dream to provide love and hope to those in the Pittsburgh community. Below are the details!

LovePittsburgh-Instagram

Terence

 

Days 18-21 #closetstrike

Today, makes 21 DAYS in one outfit. In fact, this was one of the hardest weeks wearing only one outfit. I had several meetings, engagements, and places to go where I only had this one outfit. However, what I’m learning is this, “You don’t need to make it… All you need is resilience and trust in God.” Now, I only have 69 more days to go!

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Terence

 

Days 12-14 Serving water

This AM was amazing! Why? We went out and passed out tons of water we collected during our #projectTHIRST campaign! This morning we encountered several people who said that they have experienced dehydration before while living on the streets, and were grateful for the water.

While serving, I got a chance to help some people on 14th day of #closetstrike… It was humbling…I’ve been wearing one outfit for 14 DAYS straight, and I still can’t believe it…

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Now, some may say that it is pointless to go out and distribute bottles of water, but I beg to differ… Our goal was to collect tons of water to encounter people who are subject to dehydration, and build relationships with them, learn their stories, and see how we can get them the resources needed to transition off of the streets (while making sure they are hydrated during Summer months).

Well, while serving we encountered this 28 year young man named Lamar! By passing out one bottle of water, it sparked a conversation that ended up with me driving him to Atlanta Crisis Center to check himself in… He told me he hadn’t slept in three days because of the hard drugs he was doing…But for some reason he wanted to try to leave the streets this AM…

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So, was it the water, or was it the conversation that mattered. I believe it was the conversation! I believe it was the relationship, and I believe it was because we chose to go beyond a hand out…

Hand outs do nothing, but hearing stories and building relationships can be used by God to do wonders!

Below is the bottle of water that sparked the conversation. Pray that we reach more people, hydrate more people, and pray that I stay committed to the #closetstrike journey.

Terence

Days 5&6… #closetstrike

This morning had to have been the rough morning for me! Why? Because for the last six days, I have literally had on the same outfit every single day. I have done everything in it. I have gone to meetings, done work around the office, and have used this one outfit for every single thing. If I can be honest, it hurts knowing I cannot wear anything else …Also, it hurts knowing that I am confined to one outfit for every single event that I will partake in over the next 84 days (I can only imagine how students feel who go through this struggle).

In fact, this morning I visited a school in Douglas County (Chapel Hill High) because a student did a campaign to raise awareness about homelessness and partner with students and teachers on behalf of our organization #lovebeyondwalls. The news paper showed up (Douglasville Sentinel), and I was in the same outfit again. Below is a picture on Kamara (student), Jeff (editor), and myself (same outfit) discussing how students rallied around our efforts to reach the less fortunate.

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Nonetheless, while on this journey I have been humbled, and extremely appreciative of every single thing that I have had the privilege to own.

Being on this journey has shown me how ungrateful we can sometimes be when we have many options at our disposal. I encourage any/every/one to cherish anything God has entrusted them with (no matter if they do not think it is a lot).
Terence