Beginning today, November 15th, and lasting until he’s reached his $3,000.00 goal, Clint Benefield, the owner of Vapor Galleria in Tyler, TX, will find out firsthand what it’s like to be homeless.
Benefield will be living atop some scaffolding outside of his 1400 WSW Loop 323 location to raise money to fight hunger and homelessness. All the money he raises will be donated to cover Smith County’s United Way 2017 Thanksgiving Meal—an event that will feed approximately 1,100 hungry and homeless people throughout the county.
“I’ve always had a soft spot for the homeless,” Benefield states. “We think it’s important to give back to the community. And I want my business to reflect a few of my beliefs.”
The census bureau reports that just under 21% of Tyler’s population lives at or below the poverty line. And according to a Homeless Survey taken in East Texas in 2015, first-time homelessness has increased from 41% to 43%, with 31% of homeless individuals experiencing chronic homelessness (“continuously homeless for a year or more, and experiencing homelessness at least four times in the past three years”).
Donations to the United Way 2017 Thanksgiving Meal can be made online at: www.uwsmithcounty.org/FightHunger, dropped off at 4000 Southpark, Tyler 75703, or mailed to the same address. Any amount is appreciated and will help Benefield raise the money he needs to help fight hunger in his community.
