The Superman Project
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"We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty." - Mother Teresa
One year ago, on my morning walk to work through downtown Chicago, I met a homeless man who introduced himself as Superman. I bought him breakfast and immediately fell in love with his giant brown eyes and playful spirit. Superman is a Chicago native, who has had an extremely rough road as he relies on crutches to support his one leg. Over the past year, we've gone from acquaintances to friends, and there's rarely a day that goes by without us talking to each other about our days, weekend plans, and whatever may be going on in the world that day.
A few weeks ago, I asked Superman what was on the top of his Christmas list. He said that if he could ask for anything in the world, it would be a sleeping bag to get him through this winter. That weekend I ran out and bought him a cold-weather sleeping bag, tarp to put between his bag and the snow, and a duffel bag that he could carry while walking on crutches. You would have thought that I'd gifted him much more than a sleeping bag, because he started crying and said, "I get to keep the bag too?!" It was the most incredible feeling in the world!
Last week, I gave some change to a woman named Angela who was also homeless, and we started to give each other daily hellos as I walked to work each day. I was headed home from work around 9:30 the other night, and saw Angela sleeping on a thin hello kitty blanket on top of the snow. Chicago is extremely cold this time of year, and I knew I wanted to buy the same gift for Angela that I had gifted to Superman a few weeks back. As I walked the rest of the way to my train, I noticed the mass number of individuals who were also without shelter and sleeping in the snow. I knew I needed to find as many sleeping bags as possible.
My husband Aaron and I went out the next day and bought 7 packages to deliver to those in need. For $50 a pack, we can fill one duffel bag with a 0 degree Fahrenheit sleeping bag, 6' x 8' waterproof tarp, hand warmers, breakfast bars, toothbrush, toothpaste, and a Christmas card. We contacted our friends and families to help with donations, and were able to raise $1000.00 in the first 24 hours. Amazing! We've been purchasing supplies and delivering packs to those in need every day in the downtown area, and western suburbs. On the weekends, we are able to load up our car and deliver packages to large numbers of people without shelter in the downtown Chicago area.
Throughout this process, Aaron and I have met the most fantastic people, who are at risk of not surviving this brutal Chicago winter. They need a helping hand, and assistance securing the much needed supplies to survive living outside in the cold. The recipients of these duffel bags are the most sincere people with the biggest hearts, and incredibly impactful stories, and they turn our hearts to mush every time we meet them!
We are quickly running out of the original 20 packages that we were able to purchase with the donations received from our families and friends, but there are so many more individuals without shelter who need a pack of their own! Aaron and I hope to be able to continue to deliver packages throughout the winter to those in need, but we cannot afford to purchase the packs ourselves. We are asking that you please donate anything that you can to bless these individuals this Christmas. We are so appreciative of your support, and are excited to work together to keep these very special souls warm for the winter.
#thesupermanproject #warmforthewinter #helpthehomeless #homelessawareness



One year ago, on my morning walk to work through downtown Chicago, I met a homeless man who introduced himself as Superman. I bought him breakfast and immediately fell in love with his giant brown eyes and playful spirit. Superman is a Chicago native, who has had an extremely rough road as he relies on crutches to support his one leg. Over the past year, we've gone from acquaintances to friends, and there's rarely a day that goes by without us talking to each other about our days, weekend plans, and whatever may be going on in the world that day.
A few weeks ago, I asked Superman what was on the top of his Christmas list. He said that if he could ask for anything in the world, it would be a sleeping bag to get him through this winter. That weekend I ran out and bought him a cold-weather sleeping bag, tarp to put between his bag and the snow, and a duffel bag that he could carry while walking on crutches. You would have thought that I'd gifted him much more than a sleeping bag, because he started crying and said, "I get to keep the bag too?!" It was the most incredible feeling in the world!
Last week, I gave some change to a woman named Angela who was also homeless, and we started to give each other daily hellos as I walked to work each day. I was headed home from work around 9:30 the other night, and saw Angela sleeping on a thin hello kitty blanket on top of the snow. Chicago is extremely cold this time of year, and I knew I wanted to buy the same gift for Angela that I had gifted to Superman a few weeks back. As I walked the rest of the way to my train, I noticed the mass number of individuals who were also without shelter and sleeping in the snow. I knew I needed to find as many sleeping bags as possible.
My husband Aaron and I went out the next day and bought 7 packages to deliver to those in need. For $50 a pack, we can fill one duffel bag with a 0 degree Fahrenheit sleeping bag, 6' x 8' waterproof tarp, hand warmers, breakfast bars, toothbrush, toothpaste, and a Christmas card. We contacted our friends and families to help with donations, and were able to raise $1000.00 in the first 24 hours. Amazing! We've been purchasing supplies and delivering packs to those in need every day in the downtown area, and western suburbs. On the weekends, we are able to load up our car and deliver packages to large numbers of people without shelter in the downtown Chicago area.
Throughout this process, Aaron and I have met the most fantastic people, who are at risk of not surviving this brutal Chicago winter. They need a helping hand, and assistance securing the much needed supplies to survive living outside in the cold. The recipients of these duffel bags are the most sincere people with the biggest hearts, and incredibly impactful stories, and they turn our hearts to mush every time we meet them!
We are quickly running out of the original 20 packages that we were able to purchase with the donations received from our families and friends, but there are so many more individuals without shelter who need a pack of their own! Aaron and I hope to be able to continue to deliver packages throughout the winter to those in need, but we cannot afford to purchase the packs ourselves. We are asking that you please donate anything that you can to bless these individuals this Christmas. We are so appreciative of your support, and are excited to work together to keep these very special souls warm for the winter.
#thesupermanproject #warmforthewinter #helpthehomeless #homelessawareness
Organizer
Kaitlyn Totter
Organizer
Chicago, IL