Heart 2 Hart are regular guys helping the homeless

TERRY FOSTER’S BLOG | AUGUST 1, 2013

by Terry Foster

Detroit — His name is Eric and he wore a sport jacket and neck tie Wednesday. His new attire symbolizes the transition in his life.

Eric and other homeless came to meet the good folks at Heart 2 Hart Detroit, a group of area folks that distribute clothes, food and love every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Hart Plaza and other places around downtown Detroit.

Eric said he is a former drug addict and alcoholic that spent nights in Hart Plaza. He was lost in life aimlessly roaming the streets downtown, grabbing hobo showers in Cobo Arena when the bathrooms opened in the morning.

Now he is in transition housing and hopes to have a permanent home soon. He is also looking for a job. Eric is one of the main reasons why I’ve decided to make Hart 2 Heart Detroit one of two organizations that I plan to help as we try to try to battle this homeless problem in Detroit.

I was told there are 20,000 homeless in Metro Detroit and there are 1,900 beds for them.

I met Chairman Mark Jacobs and Founder Larry Oleinick from Heart 2 Hart to see the work they do. They packed cars with boxed lunches of a turkey or peanut butter sandwiches and socks. They even got a case of T-shirts from the Detroit Pistons this day. They do this every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at noon rain, snow or sun.

They are just a bunch of regular people that need help to help others. They told me they are barely making it and I want us all to join in and help them with their mission of feeding the homeless and helping them get off the streets.

They need food, socks, gloves, jackets, sleeping bags, baby wipes and have a new request of cologne. Their website is h2hd.org and I ask that you visit their site to see how you can help. I plan to donate and champion their causes to my 45,000 followers on twitter, face book and on this blog.

Every little bit helps.

I wanted to do this after seeing so many homeless laying on the streets downtown near steam vents as I walked to my car after Lions games. The jolt to finally act happened when two Detroit sports icons, the Eat ‘Em Up Tigers guy and Dreadlock Mike were killed when they were hit by a car.

It was time for me to do something to help.

I found a similar group that goes out into the streets. I will tell you about that group on Friday.

(Join me tonight at Dirty Jerseys in Windsor (7:30 – 9:30 pm) as I sell and sign my book 100 Things Tiger Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die. Books are $15 or two for $25 and part of the proceeds will help Heart 2 Hart Detroit.)