Heroes for the Homeless began with a vision to find meaningful ways to assist the homeless.  For years Tricia Lapitan handed out bottled water and juice boxes to the homeless instead of giving them money.  Then a night of putting up Christmas lights in the bitter cold had her thinking seriously about a cup of hot chocolate.  It seemed impossible, complicated, even crazy, but on December 20, 2006, five concerned citizens headed to the streets of Seattle in the blowing rain armed with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and thermoses filled with hot chocolate.  At the end of the evening, more than 140 cups of hot chocolate and 200 sandwiches had been served to hungry, grateful individuals.

Over the last three years, Heroes for the Homeless has continued its mission to help those who live outdoors without the assistance of organized shelters, and Lapitan’s vision has grown into a thriving non-profit organization, reaching an average of 700 individuals a month. The team, now made up of 23 active volunteers, travel by car and on foot on a monthly basis to serve the most vulnerable of the homeless.

By offering food, a hot beverage, clothing, hygiene products, outdoor survival supplies, and information on how to get social service assistance, Heroes for the Homeless supports their clients to help them remain independent and out of the criminal justice system. This assistance is offered to the homeless without cost, expectation, or judgment.

Thanks to the generosity of individual donors and community sponsors, and to partnerships with other social service agencies, Heroes has been able to expand services and reach more clients in need. The fact that the organization has remained entirely volunteer-run, also means that all funds raised go directly to serve the homeless in King County.

For more information about Heroes for the Homeless, and to learn about how you can get involved, please visit the Heroes for the Homeless website.