Project Goddess PDX

Project goddess started out as an idea to help homeless women gain access to period hygiene products, and evolved into helping people from all walks of life with many different items.
One thing I've done occasionally that I would love your feed back on, is helping the elderly. I work a job that puts me in a position to help them with their daily activities every day. But occasionally I'll bring in some personal care products or clothes when I see they lack those small comforts that make the transition from home to care facility more comfortable. Maybe they don't have family near to bring them clothes, so they've been wearing hospital gowns for a week. Maybe their family can't come visit due to covid restrictions. Maybe they just would feel more at home and comfortable with something other than the standard hospital soap, shampoo and lotion. When I see someone that seems like they are getting "down" from an extended hospital/care facility stay, I try to cheer them up whether it be a new shirt or pants or a scented body cream or a bottle of higher quality conditioner.

Im wondering if this should become a staple of project goddess; if you think so leave a comment!
We could call it "goodies for grandparents" or something.

Some specific needs I see with our elderly friends are: men's t shirts, sweat pants, women's nightgowns or house dresses, CeraVe/gold bond/etc type facial lotions, deep moisturizing foot creams, shampoo and conditioner (especially for curly and black hair, the standard hospital shampoos are very drying for that texture) eyeglasses lense wipes, house shoes with very good grip on the bottom to reduce falls, body wash, loofas.

If interested in donating these items please message me!

These people are our most at risk during the pandemic. They are separated from family and forced to acclimate to assisted living or hospital care very quickly, with many restrictions due to covid like less social time with others as far as bingo and dining activities go. The smallest things can make then feel more comfortable and more "at home" in these unfamiliar settings. ✨

Haven't posted in a while so here's an update! I was blessed with many opportunities to help out a few lovely individuals over the Christmas season, but a few of my favorite highlights were:

the single mom in front of Safeway holding a sign, facing jeers and backlash from cruel people who would never be strong enough to stand in her shoes, who had the courage to ask for help with some much needed items for her and her children. They received clothes and shoes and toiletries and a few treats for mom to take back to their hotel room. 🥰 If you're reading this ma'm, please message me, I'd love to deliver more goodies to you and your family.

The woman on Lombard who hopped right into my car while I was at a stoplight.. she melted my heart with her story and the injuries she sustained from an abusive partner. And even though she was in pain and struggling herself, she still insisted on giving me candy and her favorite kind of drink. I was able to help her with a few sets of clothes and toiletries and a ride to where she needed to go. She tried to pay me gas money repeatedly and couldn't understand why in the world I would help her for free. She then had me drop her off at someone's house who had helped her before, so she could bring them a bag of goodies too. She had a beautiful giving heart and I hope I meet her again.

The lovely trans woman who needed more feminine clothes as well as groceries, but couldn't afford it due to her partner being hospitalized with covid.

The woman I found sleeping on the ground at my work, who was timid to let me help at first, and it was clear others hadn't been kind to her. I was able to make a makeshift tent shelter and get a dry sleeping bag to her as well as some much needed items.

The local neighbor who wanted to help a woman who lost everything in a house fire with clothes for her and her children, I'm so happy I was able to replace some of their items!

If any of you are reading this and have been previously helped, never hesitate to reach out and message this page and we would love to see you again and address whatever needs you have.

As for donations, we always take gently used clothing, purses, backpacks, shoes, jewelry, hats, sleeping bags, tents etc.

We accept new shampoos, conditioner, soaps, toiletries, tooth brushes, toothpastes, deodorant and any other items you think would be appreciated like face masks, body sprays, foot scrubs etc.
We always accept unopened boxes of tampons, pads, wipes, etc as well as NEW menstrual cups.

I'm always looking for volunteers to help pass these bags out and deliver them to local people, tent cities, anywhere they are needed.

Lots of people rely on laundromats to do their laundry, so consider quarters, laundry pods, etc for homeless people who need their clothes washed. as well as other home items for those who aren't homeless but are still in need, or maybe who live in a hotel.

As for monetary donations, I am not set up to accept those for tax purposes and legal reasons, we would have to get officially registered and certified as an official non profit organization, and I'm not currently in a place where I can take that leap. However, I know for a fact that fast food gift cards, Walmart/Safeway/7/11 gift cards, and gas cards for those living in their cars are always ALWAYS appreciated, so consider those instead or if you're making your own bags and passing them out, you may want to include one of those!

You can also donate to Rose Haven women's shelter in Portland, a much bigger organization that has helped me personally when I was homeless.

My goal here is to spread project goddess as an idea, for everyone to make their own bags and send them out. For kindness to become the norm instead of the exception. But I understand due to covid that being out in public is not for everyone, so if you can't get out there yourself, contact us and we'll get those items out to good use for you.

If you're reading this and you need help in the PNW, MESSAGE US!!! I would love to help you. Any needs you have, any special requests, please reach out.

I've been MIA for a while, and I do apologize for that. Life has been unsettled and hectic and it hasn't slowed down or gotten any easier. But I'm committed to this project even if I'm terrible with timelines and management. Im committed to helping as soon as I'm in a position to do so. 💕

Are you in need of feminine hygiene supplies, bath and body products, clothes, etc? Are you homeless in the pdx area?? Please comment or message and let me know where I can bring you a bag! I have six packed full and ready to go and plenty more to come!

What a happy day!!! My tiny assistant here is currently sorting through a giant donation of soooo many amazing products for every goddess in need! Thank you for your gracious donation Jennifer 💕 we've also received some deodorants and products geared towards more masculine scents for any one who might need that!

If you are street or tent or car living in Portland, or even if you have a place to rest your head most the time but struggle to afford these items, please message me here on the page and we can help you. If you have special requests let me know! We have self care items, feminine hygiene products, snacks, razors, etc. Let us know the most convenient place and time to meet you, we can come to you anywhere in the area. I know when you're homeless transportation can be an impossibly hard hurdle sometimes, and I want to make it as easy as possible for you to get your needs met and have access to the things you need. There is no paperwork or red tape for you to cross, although I would love to know your name and hear your story and all about who you are and your dreams for the future. I used to be homeless myself, off and on for a few years. As of October 2020 I have an apartment with my children that I am so grateful for. But I want to help those who are still trapped in homelessness because I've been there so many times myself and I'm well aware, homelessness could happen to anybody. Most of us are one paycheck, one illness, one divorce, one house fire, one lost job away from losing everything, yet most people are blissfully unaware that the system they live within isn't as stable as it seems. You think "it'll never happen to me" until it does. To those of you who are living it, walking it, and still persevering, I want to hear about your feelings, your struggles, your ideas. I want to be your friend.

If you're reading this and wishing to donate, our biggest need right now is more purses, backpacks etc. To put these products in. Is your closet full of purses you haven't worn in a few years? We would love them! I can clean them out and fix them up. Do you have backpacks from all those school years and no longer need or use them? I'd be happy to take them off your hands and put them to good use!

Also, if you see a clearance sale of these things at any store,, yard sale, etc, tag us in the post so I can jump on the opportunity. (Yes, I have been known to load all three kids into the minivan at 9pm to go scoop 20 backpacks from walmart for a dollar each!)

Items we are so grateful to receive:
-Tampons, pads, menstrual cups
-Underwear
-Socks
-Razors
-Shaving cream
-Shampoo and conditioner
-Makeup
-Nail clippers
-Nail polish
-Toothbrushes
-Toothpaste
-Hair ties
-Bobby pins
-Wet Wipes
-Makeup remover
-Lotions
-Face masks (covid 19 protection and/or spa clay or sheet masks are both welcome haha!)
-Deodorant
-Body spray
-Shoes
-Hand sanitizer
-Fast food gift cards
-Transportation cards
-Laundromat cards
-Laundry soap
-gas gift cards

*****And the latest addition to services I'm wanting to add, because some people who don't have a roof also do not even have a tent***""
***Camping gear**** tents, sleeping bags, air mattresses, battery powered air pumps, solar showers (8 bucks at walmart, the sun heats a bag of water and it has a shower nozzle that works like a charm at nightfall) flashlights, batteries, blankets, travel pillows, tarps, anything you think would make sleeping outside a bit more comfortable

•Message us here and I can pick up in or around Portland, smaller items can be dropped off at gaia's, or you can ship them! Message for details on how. •

******Monetary donations*********

I'm trying to figure out how to accept monetary donations in the proper way for an organization, and also looking into providing prepaid shipping envelopes to anyone wishing to help out (we send a box or envelope, you fill it with items and send it back, at no cost to you) but I have not worked out all the kinks yet so stay tuned. In the meantime, fast food gift cards are welcome because most homeless people do not have access to a kitchen. Gas cards are a blessing as well as many live in their cars and rely on running it at times to charge their devices or use the heat. Thank you!

Thank you thank you THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Im probably going to sound like a dingus in an attempt to explain this properly, but this is important to say and I'm just not sure how to word it best.

Project goddess PDX is, and always will be, as inclusive as possible!

When I say we are helping women, that is because its short and fits in the bio. What I actually mean is, if you are homeless and you need tampons, pads, makeup, or anything, no matter what gender you are, I will bring you supplies.

"Tampon and makeup Goddess for humans that bleed and enjoy mascara" just wasn't quite as catchy.

Over here, we believe that trans peeps are valid, that black lives matter. We believe in stopping asian hate. We believe in women's rights. We believe in human rights. We believe that no matter what your body looks like, you are beautiful and valid and deserving of help.

We believe that one small act or kindness can have a profound effect on the world. You CAN change the world. You start by changing one person's day, through an act of kindness and compassion. Then their week is a bit easier. Their view on people and the world can make a positive turn. They might be inspired to show another kindness, and so on and so forth. Before you know it the world is full of more good then bad. And this is how it starts. With you doing something as simple as buying an extra box of tampons at walmart, or stopping your car to help a turtle across the road, or uplifting a stranger, or reminding someone that their soul is beautiful.

It starts with you. It starts with all of us.
Be the change you wish to see in the world.

I think this work is so so important. Bringing immediate needs to women who really deserve it. But I dream of a future where the country wakes up and realizes homelessness is a huge HUGE issue and MOST people are literally one car accident, one or two paychecks, one divorce, one death, one diagnosis away from being homeless. Most. Not some. Not a few. Most. The fact is, you probably are. and so far you've only been very very lucky. One day I will tell my personal story, detailing how someone who works so hard, has three kids, took all the right steps, and still ended up homeless multiple times. But for now I want to plant a seed: continue to help those who are drowning, but never stop fighting to find out the reason this is happening in our country at an alarming rate, and fight to fix it! VOTE to fix it. Write. Speak. Educate.

Something is seriously wrong in our country. Once upon a time, you could study hard and get into college and work and save and buy a home. Once upon a time you could learn a necessary trade and make a life for yourself if school just wasn't your thing. But for the vast majority of people those dreams don't exist anymore. People that ARE MAKING it in life, either had a headstart from their parents, help through college, help with a cosigner, a relative putting in a good word for a job, a partner to rely on whether that means two incomes, or free childcare while the other works. Or a whole crowd of roommates all working full time just to barely get by in a flat.

This is not normal. This is not what life is supposed to be life. This is NOT the american dream. Til we figure it out, hand out tampons, hand out gift cards, be generous and be KIND. Because it could be you.

Project Goddess

A couple of people have reached out asking what to do with the items once they are packed and ready to go. The idea is for you to give it to a homeless woman, to talk to them and learn about them, but understandably during this pandemic, some might not feel safe doing that, and others just simply don't have the time to shop for items or deliver them to folks but they still very much want to help. I even got offered donations which is amazing, and made me think maybe I need to figure out how to set up a charity bank account for project goddess bc I have no clue how that works.

In the mean time, if you're in the northwest, just message me if you can't deliver the backpacks/purses yourself, and I'll have a pick up day in Portland and bring them to people who might need them.
If you'd like to help with monetary donations, stay tuned, I'm going to try to make a donate button and have it go to an account that is specifically for project goddess.

If you're reading this and your no where near the pacific northwest, it's not by mistake!! Get the ball rolling in YOUR area, I want one to pop up in every area and to reach as many as possible. Spread the love. BE the change you wish to see in the world. ❤️ You can make a difference.

To kick things off, get a backpack or purse, fill it with treasures like tampons, pads, makeup, fast food gift cards, nail polish, wet wipes, mascara, brushes, hair ties, lotions, whatever you think you would need if you were a homeless woman, and people kept shoving canned chicken soup, dry rice and green beans at you.

Snap a photo and tag it and share it here! Spread the word and explain what you're doing until this catches on!

Love and light!