C.A.S.E. CARING ABOUT SOMEBODY ELSE

So, last night I googled myself (Oh please, if you know me you are not hardly surprised that I would be up at 2am doing that) and my name popped up in a lot of places. Who knew?

I realized what an amazing year it has been. I started the year laying on my mom's couch begging God to kill me because my life had finally caught up with me and I had suffered a stroke and gotten "it". Thank God Angie reminded me that without her Uncle Saladhead my niece, Simone, wouldn't have anyone to explain why jewelry only came in Blue Boxes and Kenneth Cole is not a real designer (Honey, if you can get it at the Meadows mall, it aint couture). So, I let God off the hook and went on.

Somehow, I met the most amazing people, from health care workers to people I met through a mutual love of politics and our fantastic country and a bunch of gay guys who disproved the notion that all 'mo's are bitches. Oh yeah, it turned out that lesbians like me! Cool! I also met a great group of seniors who answered the call when I decided that I had to try to make it Denver to support Hillary Clinton. They never let me give up and only a few tried to kill me when I switched over to Obama after the roll call. Thank Gawd those electric scooters only do about 5mph!

Oh yeah, WE ELECTED A PRESIDENT!

Through all of this I have started to become known for helping organize and publicize all sorts of events and businesses. I have been honored to have been asked by two ladies to read and write blurbs for their books (oh, I also started a little blog , www.dereksbigfatdemocraticadventure.blogspot.com) and have worked with and served on the boards of local organizations filled with the most incredible people who make everyday about getting up at 630am (well, that and the fact that I have to pee, I'm getting old) and starting another busy day.

I am (I hate people who talk like this. And Vegetarians) truly blessed!

Ok, the point.

Not everybody is so lucky to have someone care about them. I have so many people that care about me that I feel I have to share you with the people who aren't so lucky.

So, I'm asking all of you to go into your closet and find the stuff that you don't need or will never fit into again ( Be brave, even Oprah knows Calvin Klein and her aint gonna be friends for a minute). On Sunday 21 December I am going to go down to the places here in Las Vegas where people are living in tents and behind dumpsters and hand out as many items of clothes and anything else that we ( Oh yeah, I am not writing this to you so you can have warm fuzzies, you're helping) can spare and personally hand them to people.

Why? Because I'm good now. If my life doesn't continue upwards, it's my bad. I have the whole world open to me and a beautiful future ahead. I have love of family and friends. I have people from online who are my Internet buddies. My phone doesn't stop ringing with invitations, gossip, laughs, tears and chances to get involved in even more. I'm set.

It's time I got on the C.A.S.E and started CARING ABOUT SOMEONE ELSE.

HERE'S WHAT I WANT FROM YOU:

ANY SPARE CLOTHES THAT YOU HAVE.
Vegas gets hella cold in the winter. Even if you just have light clothes people can layer.

SOCKS AND UNDERWEAR!
Think about it.

SHOES

BELTS
Again, think about it. If you're homeless accessories aren't exactly high on your list, but, you need to keep your pants up (would someone tell that to these young boys who think me looking at their drawers is stylish?!? I'm jes sayin').

FOOD
Please, only food that's dehydrated or comes in a pop top can. Food that doesn't need to be cooked. If you're homeless, you aint got no stove, think!

WHAT I DON'T WANT

CASH!

If you don't have the time to go through your closet or cupboard then please think about what you would need on the streets.

DRY TOOTHPASTE AND BRUSHES
SANITARY PRODUCTS ie TAMPONS, DEODORANT, ETC..


You get the drift.

I hope we have too much. At that point we can go to local churches and places where people go for help. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Only one stipulation; I will not have anything to do with any organization that discriminates or makes me people sit through a seminar, sermon or talking to about their lifestyle and choices. That stuff is up to them and THEIR god.

If you know personally of a family, or, you need help, let me know.

Ok, folks, let's get on the C.A.S.E.!

Derek Washington

Btw, if you get this and you're not in Vegas you can forward this on, put it on your Facebook/Myspace/Church Bulletin/Company newsletter in your area and start your own local version of C.A.S.E. it's my idea but it belongs to everybody!

BE THANKFUL FOR WHAT YOU HAVE AND DON'T GIVE AN EF ABOUT WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE