Hope for the Homeless
Donation protected
We are Anthony and Lauren Guastella and we founded On Your Feet Detroit, an action-based organization aimed at fighting homelessness in Detroit.
Our main focus is to create warming bundles to give essential warming items to those living out on the streets during the harsh winter months. Our goal is to continue raising funds to build and distribute warming bundles during the brutal Michigan winter.
Warming bundles are backpacks filled with the following items:
hat, gloves, (2) pairs of socks, (10) pairs of hand warmers, (2) thermal blankets, a lighter, a toothbrush and toothpaste.
Where we've been
2015
Along with Anthony's family, we created 50 bags to hand out to people on the streets of Detroit during the Christmas season. These bags included some warm food, snacks, socks, gloves, tissues, chapstick, toothbrush and toothpaste, and handwritten notes. But most importantly, these bags were filled with love. When we handed these bags out, we took time to talk with the individuals. To hear their stories. Speak encouragement. Make them feel known and loved.
2016
Anthony continued his outreach performing intentional acts of kindness for the homeless community. Initially this began with bringing hot chocolate, coffee, and breakfast to the corner of 8 mile and Woodward. Anthony would stay and chat with the people living there, focusing on the personal, human connection that we all want and need in our lives. Food was just a way to open the door to conversations.
2017
We continued our intentional acts of kindness, but wanted to do more. We created our first generation 'warming bundle' to help individuals make it through the harsh winter months. Throughout the winter, we created over 50 bundles and handed them out across Detroit. These bundles were simple, contianing gloves, hand warmers, lighters, and socks.
It was during this time that Anthony met William, the man who inspired us to dream bigger for this year's campaign.
2018
Through GoFundMe and cash/check donations, we raised enough to build and distribute 150 warming bundles, hand out over 100 lunches, and provide 10 nights of emergency shelter in a motel to the most vulnerable.
This was an incredible opportunity to spread hope to those experiencing homelessness and we hope to launch more community outreach days moving forward!
Get to know us
Lauren is a Physician Assistant at Henry Ford Hospital and Anthony is a Cancer Biologist who studies brain tumors at Royal Oak Beaumont. We live in Bloomfield Hills, MI with our cat Oliver and love the city of Detroit.
Please check out our website to learn more information about our organization, the warming bundles we create each year to bring relief to people in the harshest months of winter, and how you can get involved.
Our main focus is to create warming bundles to give essential warming items to those living out on the streets during the harsh winter months. Our goal is to continue raising funds to build and distribute warming bundles during the brutal Michigan winter.
Warming bundles are backpacks filled with the following items:
hat, gloves, (2) pairs of socks, (10) pairs of hand warmers, (2) thermal blankets, a lighter, a toothbrush and toothpaste.
Where we've been
2015
Along with Anthony's family, we created 50 bags to hand out to people on the streets of Detroit during the Christmas season. These bags included some warm food, snacks, socks, gloves, tissues, chapstick, toothbrush and toothpaste, and handwritten notes. But most importantly, these bags were filled with love. When we handed these bags out, we took time to talk with the individuals. To hear their stories. Speak encouragement. Make them feel known and loved.
2016
Anthony continued his outreach performing intentional acts of kindness for the homeless community. Initially this began with bringing hot chocolate, coffee, and breakfast to the corner of 8 mile and Woodward. Anthony would stay and chat with the people living there, focusing on the personal, human connection that we all want and need in our lives. Food was just a way to open the door to conversations.
2017
We continued our intentional acts of kindness, but wanted to do more. We created our first generation 'warming bundle' to help individuals make it through the harsh winter months. Throughout the winter, we created over 50 bundles and handed them out across Detroit. These bundles were simple, contianing gloves, hand warmers, lighters, and socks.
It was during this time that Anthony met William, the man who inspired us to dream bigger for this year's campaign.
2018
Through GoFundMe and cash/check donations, we raised enough to build and distribute 150 warming bundles, hand out over 100 lunches, and provide 10 nights of emergency shelter in a motel to the most vulnerable.
This was an incredible opportunity to spread hope to those experiencing homelessness and we hope to launch more community outreach days moving forward!
Get to know us
Lauren is a Physician Assistant at Henry Ford Hospital and Anthony is a Cancer Biologist who studies brain tumors at Royal Oak Beaumont. We live in Bloomfield Hills, MI with our cat Oliver and love the city of Detroit.
Please check out our website to learn more information about our organization, the warming bundles we create each year to bring relief to people in the harshest months of winter, and how you can get involved.
Organizer
Anthony Guastella
Organizer
Bloomfield Hills, MI