Did anyone happen to read Monday’s Washington Post article about Diana Kelly?

Kelly, a Starbucks employee in Fredericksburg, started her own outreach project after a chance meeting with a homeless man opened her eyes to an entire community of people living in the woods behind a local shopping center.
Together with her co-workers, Kelly organized collections for hotel toiletries, socks, money and other supplies. Then, she and her team of helpers began to deliver monthly care packages to the homeless communities, spending time with them and encouraging them to visit local food banks and shelters for physical and mental support.

The service project, which has now grown into a nonprofit called Project Dominic, is a great example of how regular people can provide service in their own backyards. You don’t have to donate tons of money or start working at a food bank to make a difference. Sometimes, all it takes is some courage to step outside of your comfort zone and the willingness to act.

And, if you’re looking for a way to do that, consider picking up an extra case of water bottles on your next trip to the grocery store. Hot summer weather like we’ve been experiencing for the past few days can be life-threatening for local homeless populations, especially seniors and children. As the summer heats up, many will be flocking to local food banks and shelters like Christ House in Alexandria for shelter and water. Your donation could make a real difference.