DVD_aid

From the YakimaHerald.com Online News.

Published on Wednesday, March 7, 2007

DVD will expand effort to aid homeless
By ELOÍSA RUANO GONZÁLEZ
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC

GORDON KING/Yakima Herald-Republic

Lance Blair, center, and Larry Connell, right, laugh at a joke made by Barry Gunn, second from left, after filming homeless people including, from left, Natalie Mitchell, Gunn and Quentin Corbray on Tuesday in Yakima. Blair and Connell are producing a DVD on Yakima's homeless to educate people about their situation.

With winter shelters closing as warm temperatures spring forward, a group of homeless advocates are scattering to put together a short film that will document heartrending stories from the streets and help raise money for a permanent shelter.

Two Yakima brothers-in-law, Larry Connell and Lance Blair, roamed the streets of Wapato last week to find homeless people who wanted to share their experiences and their living space on videotape. They looked through abandoned cars, along railroads and under trees, hoping to capture images that would stir viewers' emotions -- as it did for them. They asked people how long they've been homeless and how they got there.

"That's what brought it to life, being able to talk to them," Blair said. "There are things I'm discovering I didn't know and feelings I never felt before."

Holding a large video camera, Blair -- owner of Yakima's Blue Ribbon Video Productions -- captured a man and woman sitting on an old freezer sharing a 40-ounce beer Friday as snow daubed their hair and worn clothing.

Emily Yallup, the 46-year-old woman sitting on the freezer, said a permanent shelter would make her life easier, particularly after spending nearly 11 months sleeping on the streets and under trees.

Yallup isn't alone.

The 2007 Point in Time survey -- a nationwide one-day homeless count conducted Jan. 25 -- counted 1,069 homeless people throughout the Yakima Valley.

Connell, a member of the Yakima Association of Churches and the driving force behind the DVD and shelter proposal, said the shelter would get people off the streets during cold weather. And it would provide year-round transitional housing, case management, schooling and courses in life skills and job skills, he said.

Connell said he would teach homeless people to be self-sufficient while the facility would remain self-sustaining through private donations.

The group -- comprised of several members from the Homeless Network of Yakima County, churches and local residents -- will use the 15-minute DVD as its sales pitch to businesses, churches and other social service organizations. The film will also feature local homeless statistics, a draft for the shelter -- which the group hopes to build near the Wal-Mart store in Yakima -- and a song written by a member of the Homeless Network who's a former Broadway musical actor/singer.

Lyle K'ang wrote the song and created music to play throughout the film/video to help move more viewers, particularly business leaders. He said his lyrics describe the difficult plights of the homeless he's come across. His visit to Santa Monica, California inspired him to write this particular song, after seeing many homeless people…record producers have contacted him about this soul-touching piece of work.

And he hopes businesses will react with their contributions to the building and renovation fund.

Sean Rogers, who's helping to audio engineer the music for the film/video, believes residents -- not government officials -- should work together to end homelessness.

So the 25-year-old guitarist for a local band, Stagnant, volunteered about 30 hours to help arrange and compose other instruments music for K'ang's lyrics. Rogers hopes the DVD will inspire people to donate money for the shelter.

"It comes down to everybody doing their part," he said. "It should be up to us to take care of each other."

For more information or to donate to the shelter project, to help veterans and the homeless person, please contact Becky Morrow at Generating Hope. (509) 480-9551.

· If you want a copy of the DVD for viewing and to listen to Lyle K’ang with Sean Roger’s musical arrangements, Chad Peterson on drums, along with Dr. Rich Riggs viola and violin performance, please email Robecka and insert DVD in the subject line.

Please include your phone number and address. mailto:robecka morrow

· Your DVD should arrive by postal mail in about 3-5 days depending on geographic location.

• Your decision to donate to a specific building fund for the Yakima or Wapato Proposed Shelters, or both is very much appreciated.

• Please specify the Shelter on the face of your check.

Mail to:

Generating Hope, PO Box 1562,

Yakima, WA. 98907

For more information, please contact:

• We are seeking donations of the following items:

~Building/Construction Fund~

Blankets, sleeping bags, jackets, socks, gloves, hats, scarves, duffle bags, non-perishable food, bottled water, shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, towels, feminine products, can openers, flashlights, batteries, chap stick, etc.

For more information, please contact:

• If you are interested in a cash donation or being a Shelter Volunteer please contact Generating Hope,

• Becky Morrow (509) 480-9551

Thank you in advance for your generosity!