_Homelessness is another step down on the ladder of poverty and it is a very real problem faced by 1.5 million children in the United States. Many homeless families live in shelters in rural or urban areas. With one income, high rent and living expenses, many families are just one emergency away from disaster. As a result, even children who still have a home to go to could lose it in a heartbeat.

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_"I'm invisible as they walk on by,
Lowering their heads to shield their eyes
Can't they see me begging right in front of their eyes"....

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posted by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

With the NBA on lockout, many players are turning to other activities. For some, like future rookie Josh Selby, that means focusing even more on giving back. If you are in or near the Baltimore, MD area, you can help by donating blankets to homeless. As a thanks for giving back, those who donate will get a photo of Josh Selby. Watch the video below for more info.

I've never told many lies. I am not good at it. I prefer the truth; lies only cause more trouble. I tell myself and others that I am not lying; I am only speaking positively. I'm not sure if anyone believes me. I'm not sure I believe myself.

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Things change. One day I was a stay-at-home homeschooling mom and wife. The next night I was in my car with my daughter, my service and my daughter's cat (who was headed to a foster home) looking for a place to sleep. I was also armed with a cell phone that I hoped to use to find us shelter. Unfortunately, I found only closed doors.

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"When I grow up, I want to be a homeless, disabled single mom" was a thought that never crossed my mind. Despite that, I am in that situation now. I am learning from my circumstances and fighting to change them.

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by Linda St.Cyr, Contributing Writer

The beginning of August 2011 was a week of many firsts for me. I took my first plane trip. I went to San Diego for the first time. I ate sushi, took a pedicab ride, and attended my first BlogHer conference. Each experience was incredible, invigorating and inspiring. Since I knew that I was going to fly for the first time I decided that I needed to do another first. I was going to give blood. It was something I have always wanted to do, but either didn't have the time or couldn't because I didn't qualify.

Years ago when I had tried to give blood I found out that you could not give blood during the same year you received a tattoo. That year happened to be the year I got my third piece of body art. Since I hadn't recently had any tat work done, wasn't on medication, and didn't have any health concerns, I decided that giving my first blood donation in the place I would experience many other firsts was fitting. It was very easy to sign up for an appointment online prior to going on the trip. I did it this way because I was worried if I didn't schedule it I would miss something going on at the conference.

My appointment with the San Diego Mobile Blood Bank parked outside of the conference center was at 12:40pm, just after lunch. It took about 10 minutes to go over the paper work and the 5 minutes to get an anemia test and blood pressure test. The nurse on staff who did the tests was very proud of how calm I was. She was surprised my blood pressure wasn't higher. I told her that I was shocked it was so good because my hands were clammy and I was nervous. She assured me there was nothing to be nervous about. I then went to wait for my turn to give a whole blood donation to the San Diego Blood Bank.

Another nurse got me all set up and explained the entire procedure so I would understand it. The really cool thing about the blood mobile was the cushy seats you get to relax in while your blood is being drawn. I was able to put my feet up and relax with reading material. I had the perfect reading material also. I had just finished meeting up with Jeremy from Soles4Souls who had given me a folder with information about the organization. It was perfect reading material for my first blood donation.

Fifteen minutes, a yellow bandage, a snack and a drink later I was on my way back through the conference proudly sporting my “Be Nice to Me, I Gave Blood” sticker. Going all the way to San Diego to give my first blood donation was fitting, but I won't be waiting for another trip like BlogHer to donate again.

If you haven't given blood yet, please keep in mind that your blood donation can save someone's life. It is one of the most important selfless acts you can do. Find a local blood bank and make a donation.

More by Linda:

Brazil’s “Zero Hunger” Program Offers Hope for the War on Poverty Worldwide

Soles4Souls: Over 300 Million Children are Without Shoes

World Humanitarian Day: Celebrating the Men and Women Making a Difference

by Linda St.Cyr, Contributing Writer

Brazil is giving hope to the world by leading in the war on poverty. The country has seen dramatic changes over the years in how many people are going hungry. In 2003 over 17 million Brazilians were living in extreme poverty. That number dropped to nine million in 2009. It still means that nine million people are living in poverty, but it also means that the social programs being used to combat poverty and hunger are working.

The new Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Jose Graziano da Silva, was previously a food security minister for Brazil. He was also one of the creators of the nation’s “Zero Hunger” social programs. One of the programs is “Bolsa Familia” or “Family Grant” which gives money directly to poor households. Graziano has stated that one of his first priorities for the FAO is to eradicate hunger.

“Bolsa Familia” is the social program that can be credited with helping Brazil’s extreme poverty numbers drop. Graziano believes that the “Zero Hunger” programs should be a model for other nations. According to Fox News Latino, Graziano believes that the “strong institutional framework” including the right to food in Brazil’s constitution and working closely with civic groups are the strength behind Zero Hunger.

Graziano stated, “These two pillars are what make the Brazilian program so attractive for the world.”

Last year it was estimated that 925 million people worldwide suffered from malnutrition, hunger, and poverty by the U.N. food program. A fear that the numbers are already on the rise due to the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa, rising food prices globally, and economic collapses is well founded. The social program initiatives under “Zero Hunger” should be a great starting point for governments all over the world to give hope to those living in extreme poverty.

Some of the initiatives under “Zero Hunger” include “Bolsa Familia”, job training for women, support for small farmers, and running restaurants that serve 50-cent meals.

More by Linda:

Soles4Souls: Over 300 Million Children are Without Shoes

World Humanitarian Day: Celebrating the Men and Women Making a Difference

Child Poverty: America's Rising Crisis

by Linda St.Cyr, Contributing Writer

I had the pleasure of meeting two representatives of Soles4Soles at BlogHer ’11 in San Diego where I was able to learn more about the organization and what it stands for. Chris and Jeremy were two of the nicest guys, although guys were in limited supply at BlogHer, a girl could meet. You can see in their eyes how much the organization means to them and why the cause is so close to their hearts.

Since I don’t know when any of you will be able to meet Chris or Jeremy at an event, I decided I should tell you a little bit more about the organization and what they are doing to make a difference in the world today.

Soles4Souls, Inc. was founded by Wayne Esley in 2004 following the devastating tsunami that hit Southeast Asia. A picture of a single shoe washed ashore triggered an idea that would lead Esley to creating Soles4Souls, Inc. and help put shoes on over 15 million pairs of feet worldwide.

Some might ask, “Why shoes?” The truth of the matter is that shoes can prevent infections, diseases, burns, and other injuries that could lead to health issues later in life. Soles4Souls “Why Shoes?” webpage sums up the importance of shoes especially for children, “With the number of children living in abject poverty and therefore surviving at a scavenger's existence, the feet are at tremendous risk as the child hunts for food or household items in garbage dumps, abandoned housing/construction areas, or while crossing through open sewer trenches and contaminated areas.”

The organization takes new and gently used shoes, cleans them up, and then delivers them to those in need. Soles4Souls has delivered over 15 million pairs of shoes domestically and internationally. Volunteers with the organization have delivered shoes to children and families in need in over 127 countries.

Shoes are not the only concern for Esley and his volunteers. Clothing, toys, furniture and building materials are all items that can provide support to victims of natural disasters and those living in extreme poverty. Soles4Souls’ other two divisions, Clothes4Souls and Hope4Souls, focus on these efforts.

Visit Soles4Souls to find out how you can make a difference by cleaning out your closet, hosting a fundraiser or taking a trip to deliver shoes to those in need.

More by Linda:

World Humanitarian Day: Celebrating the Men and Women Making a Difference

Child Poverty: America's Rising Crisis

Yum! Brands, Inc. Fights Hunger in Africa with $1M

by Linda St.Cyr, Contributing Writer

August 19th marks World Humanitarian Day, a day where the men and women who have dedicated their lives to making it better are recognized for their services. As the World Food Programme states, “The event has special significance this year as the world grapples with a hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa.”

Humanitarian aid workers do not have an easy life. They make sacrifices, risk their lives, and tackle challenges that sometimes seem to be never-ending. The World Food Programme recognized four volunteers who have made incredible strides and impact on the world. Fethi Mohammad, Consolata Kwadi, Mick Eccles, and Challiss McDonough were marked by the WFP for their contributions to putting an end to hunger and navigating through extremely unfriendly conflict zones to feed those affected by famine.

There are many humanitarians that deserve credit for the work that they do. The life of a humanitarian is not always easy, safe, or satisfying. It takes special people to make the world a better place. Those people are strong in mind, body and spirit.

I don’t have time to list all the humanitarians in the world, but here are some that I’d personally like to give credit to for World Humanitarian Day:

Wayne Elsey- Founder and CEO of Soles4Soles, Inc., an organization dedicated to providing shoes, clothes and hope to victims of abject suffering. Soles4Souls also supports micro-business efforts seeking to eradicate poverty.

Istvan Papp- U.N. Peacekeeper who was kidnapped while on a mission to oversee the disarmament program in Darfar in October 2010. He was chained to a tree in the Sudan for 3 months before finally being freed by his captors in January 2011.

Sergio Vieira de Mello, a humanitarian worker for the U.N., and the 21 others who lost their lives during a hotel bombing in Baghdad in 2003. World Humanitarian Day was declared for August 19th by the UN General Assembly in 2008 to honor de Mello and the other volunteers who gave up their lives doing good works on that sad day in 2003. De Mello was awarded the United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights posthumously in 2003.

Who did you recognize for World Humanitarian Day?


More by Linda:

Child Poverty: America's Rising Crisis

Yum! Brands, Inc. Fights Hunger in Africa with $1M

Jeff Bridges Helps Launch No Kid Hungry Campaign in Virginia