Hello FDDR villagers, welcome to our Newsletter #4

Thanks to all our family members November turned out to be a very good month. Yes we got our first snow and boy not just some dust no we got the full load, a whopping 9.5 inches of that white stuff and it lasted a full week. Ziggy proved to be very robust in the snow, no slipping or sliding at all, so the new shoes he got were exactly what he needed to make it out there.

We were able to help many of our friends on the streets and hand them necessities like coats, boots, hand-warmers, tents, long johns, blankets and more plus a warm nutritious meal.

Many calories are needed to be able to make it in the freezing cold. If you are able to help us help them with your donations that would be really, really appreciated by all.

We are happy that several of them got an apartment or another place to stay warm, and we thank all those that help to get them housing.

A special thank you to all our cooks for making such delicious meals an also the many donors that supplied FDDR with the excess food from parties.

Facebook’s match for GivingTuesday 2019 begins at 8:00 AM Eastern Time (5:00 AM Pacific Time) on Tuesday, December 3, 2019.

• Donations are matched dollar for dollar on a first-come, first-served basis until $7,000,000 USD in eligible donations are made on Facebook.
• FDDR a 501(c)(3) nonprofit is eligible to receive donations on Facebook and can be matched.
• We cover processing fees so that when you donate using Facebook’s payments platform to a nonprofit organization, 100% of your donation goes to support the cause you care about.

Find the FDDR fundraiser for  GivingTuesday here  

Donating to charity is a major mood-booster. The knowledge that you’re helping others is hugely empowering and, in turn, can make you feel happier and more fulfilled. Research has identified a link between making a donation to charity and increased activity in the area of the brain that registers pleasure - proving that as the old adage goes, it really is far better to give than to receive.

Money raised through the GivingTuesday fundraiser will go directly to providing meals and to all the other supplies that we provide on a daily basis to our homeless and near homeless friends.

We are currently a 100% volunteer organization dependent on donations.

Our immediate goal is to procure a filled pantry and winter-goods for our daily outreach efforts.

The homeless are not invisible. Any one of us can be homeless because of an unexpected tragedy, job loss, divorce, death, etc. It’s so easy to be kind. Please be inspired and help us help others.

Help Others in Need

We don't live in a perfect world, and there's never going to be a perfect time to give—but there are always people out there in need of help. Whether interest rates are rising, the economy is in the doldrums, or even if you're experiencing financial difficulties of your own, the reality is that when you donate your money, you help others who need it.

Together we can make a difference!

Thank you very much

Mat, Rose & Dina

December 2019 - Plans for the Hollidays

Thanks to multiple donors this year we have multiple fantastic treats available for al the ones we serve. We know they really appreciate and enjoy your gifts to them.

Right now we are handing out cups of hot apple cider and hot coco in a cup (donated), just add hot water and it is ready. 

We have one generous donor that sends about 60 Christmas themed shirts to hand out for the holidays and we are asking our viewers if you can step-up and get us some more. Also stocking fillers for our family on the streets would be very nice, just little things like a little notebook, flashlights, some hand-warmers, a gift-card (Burger-King, Subway, McDonald's), a Christmas card you get the idea.

Let our family come together and make it special for them too knowing that somebody cares for them.

The Detroit Red Wings and FDDR became partners!

We are honored to be a part of this amazing partnership!!

Thanks to this partnership we are able to offer you a ticket package to a Detroit Red Wings game at a discounted price .

Ticket Package Includes: Discounted Red Wings Ticket, a donation to FDDR and the opportunity to Meet Mat, Rose & Dina.

Our goal is to sell at least 100 tickets! When we do The Detroit Red Wings double their donation to FDDR to help the homeless!

It is a the perfect Christmas gift and we encourage you to share this opportunity with friends, family and all you know!

Tickets can be ordered directly from us or online at Detroit Red Wings & FDDR Tickets

SUPPORT FDDR

Please keep sharing the live feeds and our pages every day, on your personal page, in your groups or any way you can think of. We know and see it every day that our supporters and volunteers are Amazing people helping us help them.

Serving meals is our primary goal and our biggest need right now are cooks, people that signup on our mealtrain to prepare a meal, even if it's for a small amount of meals.10, 20, 30 or more ANY number helps FDDR a lot and makes it possible to feed more hungry people on the street.

Are you able to cook a meal alone or with friends/family for the Homeless? 

Sign up at our mealtrain - Need more info? Message FDDR!

Living to far away? You can Sponsor a full meal or part of a meal by making a monetary donation via check, gift-card, Cash.me/HelpFDDR , www.PayPal.me/HelpFDDR or you can use any Debit or Credit card on our website www.FDDR.org to help us help them!

Average cost of a meal $2.00 - packaging, water, sweets and snacks included

FYI

If you need help with meals or want more info do not hesitate to contact us.

Even if its only 10, 20 or so meals to add please contact at us info@fddr.org

Affordable meal suggestions:
*Pasta*: (spaghetti, alfredo)
*Kielbasa*: ( or chicken) over rice or noodles
*Tuna noodle casserole* (or w/ chicken)
*Sandwiches* (2 per meal)
*Soup*
*Scalloped potatoes w/ ham* (or kielbasa)

About AmazonSmile (a way to support FDDR at no cost to you)

AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon with the same products, prices, and shopping features as Amazon.com. The difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the charitable organization of your choice.

Every item available for purchase on www.amazon.com is also available on AmazonSmile (www.smile.amazon.com) at the same price. You will see eligible products marked "Eligible for AmazonSmile donation" on their product detail pages.

Change Your AmazonSmile Charitable Organization

On your first visit to AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com), you are prompted to select a charitable organization from our list of eligible organizations. You can change your selection at any time.

To change your charitable organization:

1. Sign in to smile.amazon.com on your desktop or mobile phone browser.
2. From your desktop, go to Your Account from the navigation at the top of any page, and then select the option to Change your Charity. Or, from your mobile browser, select Change your Charity from the options at the bottom of the page.
3. Select FDDR as a new charitable organization to support.

Most needed winter items

The cold weather with rain, snow and ice is coming fast, very fast and we like to be prepared to help them.

If you can help us with Blankets, Tents, Boots, Hoodies, Sweat pants/shirts, Socks, Gloves, Hand-warmers, did we say Hand-warmers, Tarps, Ponchos.

In short anything to keep our family in need on the streets dry and warm.

Many of these items you can find on our wish-list or make a monetary donation via check, gift-card, Cash.me/HelpFDDR , www.PayPal.me/HelpFDDR or you can use any Debit or Credit card on our website here to help us help them!

Do you speak FDDR lingo?  (Sent in by Dexter Peeples, Thank you very much.)

One Love - taken from a Bob Marley song as a reminder that we need to get together and feel alright. We are one family, whether it is the family member that FDDR serves or the family members who gather to watch the live feed.

No Judgement Zone - we keep the comments in the feed positive and are reminded that we all have situations in our lives that we would not want to be judged for so we will not judge the clients or viewers of FDDR.

Ziggy - the name of the bus in which FDDR gets around in. They zig and zag all through the streets looking for someone in need.

A Bag of Food - a catchy little tune that is guaranteed to have you singing it at all hours of the day. It is sorta like once you hear "It's a small world" you can not get that tune out of your head.

No - One of Mat's favorite responses to Rose. No: to having one of the kitties come near Ziggy, No: to more than one meal for each client. No: to more than one cigarette for each client.

Mr. Mat knows that if he says no at one stop then there will be enough for everyone.

Sprinkle (A) - Sometimes FB has an issue if they see the word "share" mentioned to many times in a live feed, so "Sprinkle" is used instead of the word "share".

Sprinkle (B) - clients love candy so Rose will "sprinkle" a handful of candy into their bag of food.

Lady Things - feminine items that Mat does not want to ask for LOL.

1 Pierre and # of cats - Pierre is one of the FDDR most cherished family members who also lives next door to the cats FDDR feeds. Shortly before arriving to this stop either Rose or Mat will invite the FDDR family members to guess how many cats will come out to eat.

Drive By Meals - Meals prepared for Mat to pass out on his side of the window so that a FDDR family member does not have to maneuver traffic to reach the feeding window.

Ziggy Legs - the ability to stand up while Ziggy is moving.

Flagger Food - meals prepared for the FDDR family members who work directing traffic with their red flags.

Rolling - A warning that Ziggy is about to leave so check to make sure no one is standing near Ziggy.

Sigh - Mat's non-verbal way of saying "No"

Numbers being posted - occasionally you will see numbers being posted in the live feed. That indicates how many people are viewing the live feed.

Meal Train - FDDR looks for 10 cooks to each make a complete meal that will feed at *least 10 people.*

Scheduled for the second Saturday of each month!

Now you know more then before, if you not already knew it.

And now a letter from our beloved Board member & Secretary Dina

(PS - I wash my hands in innocence - Mat)

With Christmas 🎄 approaching 🎄there’s so many reasons to be thankful this time of year.

I’m thankful for finding Mat & Rose. Being a part of FDDR is the most amazing feeling, not only do i enjoy our time together i have become a part of a beautiful family.

This has been an amazing journey and I look forward to many, many more wonderful memories. They have built a foundation of love and respect for all human beings. They show compassion to every person they see without judgment. While their main goal is feeding the less fortunate, the daily time they spend with all that goes on behind the scenes is truly a miracle. Their home has become our Home Headquarters. Everything they do is revolved around FDDR. Why do i tell you this? Is to show how these amazing two people are so dedicated to servicing others. The home is set up nicely and organized as donations can come in daily.

Rose and Mat eat, sleep and live to serve the homeless. Rose is a full time nurse who works nights. She handles all the donations to sorting, labeling and cooking a sponsor meal if needed.

Mat is always doing his part through out the day with stuff also behind the live feed. To running the business, technical, or filling and loading Ziggy. Some days they are busy all day long with picking up the food or even cooking the meal for the day. I have never met anyone like these two they are truly earth bound angels.
Note to Mat. ~ Don’t edit any of this as i know you both say it’s not about you! 😁♥️

To quote Rose “everyone has a story” As I have my own story that’s why I started watching FDDR about 2 years ago. I had been put on disability and felt broken. They got me through a tough time in my life as I know they have also made an impact on others who also find tremendous satisfaction watching these amazing two people.

The daily commitment of passing out meals does show others that we can make a difference in our world. As they focus on feeding and clothing our community, what they don’t realize is, they also are touching others hearts who also have a story, so it builds a bond with viewers all over the world.

When I help make a meal it’s so heartwarming and satisfying that I’m a part of giving a person the only meal they may have that day. It makes my bad days good days.

Rose & Mat are the most selfless two people I know as they never want the credit of helping others but do greatly appreciate everyone’s help who keep us running.

I would also like to acknowledge all the love, respect and amazing supporters we have. To watching us daily, sharing our video & donating your time to cook a meal. Thank you to all of you spreading the love to help us help them. We truly can not do this without you.

Merry Christmas 🎁🎄 Happy New Year 🎆..
#One Love❤️#FDDR
Your Secretary ~ Dina 😇

Want to Volunteer?

Reply to this newsletter to email us!

(Info@FDDR.org)