New York City is currently experiencing its highest level of homelessness since the Great Depression, with over 350,000 people lacking shelter. Henry Thomas knows the struggles of homelessness all too well, as he grew up on and off the streets. Thomas started his initiative Free Food for the Homeless to provide meals to New Yorkers facing food insecurity, meeting them where they are— on the subway. Thomas and his 22-year-old son Carl can often be found riding the train with a cooler full of food, wearing shirts that say “Free Food for the Homeless and the Hungry”. This family-run organization relies on donations from passengers on the train to pay for food, which normally consists of burgers and chicken nuggets from Wendy’s. When donations are running low, Thomas uses his own funds to purchase bread, meat, and cheese for homemade sandwiches. Free Food for the Homeless feeds about 50 people per day and has reached over 140,000 individuals since Thomas started this journey almost ten years ago.
Image via CNN
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