Michelle Carrera, and her 4-year-old son Ollie are making a difference for the homeless people of New York City with a new project where they are delivering vegan chili to some people who need it the most. Carrera was inspired to start the project when she realized that the city’s soup kitchen meals all contained meat, and she wanted to offer an alternative to people who wanted something different.
“It all started with Ollie because I wanted to teach him about community and helping others. This type of outreach can help teach children that it’s not weird or exotic to help people in need. If they learn from a young age, hopefully it will stick with them as an adult,” Carrera said.
“Once you’re out there on the street, it’s heartbreaking. We found a big need for non-meat and vegan meals among the hungry,” she added.
Carrera’s efforts have been commended by local homeless advocates.
“It sounds like an incredibly kind thing, and we’re always struck by the generosity of New Yorkers. Whether it’s a local elementary school clothing drive or something like this, it just really shows that people care,” Patrick Markee, a spokesman from New York’s Coalition for the Homeless said of the project.
The operation currently runs on a monthly basis, but the Carrera family is hoping to start doing this on a weekly basis. They have started a crowdfunding campaign to help them expand and offer their services every single Saturday.
John Vibes writes for True Activist and is an author, researcher and investigative journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture and the drug war.
