This French Anonymous Group Provides Food and Clothing For Homeless

Yes the video is unrelated to the context of the title. I wanted to put you in the right frame of mind to read this article. I heard today about a group of French activists and wanted to share their story here with you. The homeless problem is an epidemic spreading not just within the streets of France, but everywhere around the world. In countries such as the United States new laws are consistently being put in place which make it illegal to feed the homeless and illegal to provide them with shelter. It appears society and the legal system are become less and less humane the longer the problem persists. People view homeless as lost causes, people in the way of organized society, bums, or people who have done this to themselves. They do not deserve our sympathy they say. This is very large problem within society. The homeless are no different then you or I,  they are just people who need a little extra help in this world.

In France a group of Anonymous work together to bring food, clothing and support to the homeless people in their communities. Once a month the group organizes and coordinates amoungst one another to go out under the protection of night cover and share resources with their communities. The group calls themselves The Anonymous Lyon Maraud For Homeless. Do not know what maraud means? It is ok, I had to look it up myself. Maraud meaning to roam around in a quest for plunder. Except the only plundering going on is to their personal bank accounts.

Every month each member agrees to save up at least 50 Euros (about 54US$), as much as 200 Euros, to give back to the homeless community. There has been as many as 39 people who have participated in the act and when you put  all this together you are talking about raising 2,000-4,000$ each month. One night a month the group gets together, walk the streets and hand out gifts to the homeless people they encounter. These gifts can be anything the person wishes to buy from food to clothing to toys et cetera.

I have never heard of a charity organization like Anonymous Lyons. I am so proud to have learned about them and I hope they inspire you as well. The group was recently founded within the last year and have now gone on 5 successful marches. These types of actions are something most everyone in the world can do, but do not. This is why I commend the people of Lyon, France. Can Anonymous extend this movement into Paris? Globally? At least for now the people of Lyon Maraud could use some help. They did not ask for this but in an interview they told me “gathering clothes is more difficult, I have to buy most of it myself”. If there is anything you can do send them clothing, perhaps putting it in a cardboard box and shipping it; please do this. The organizers have a closed group on Facebook but you can reach out to them here: The Anonymous Lyon Maraud For Homeless

Their efforts are not directly related to OpSafeWinter but this is the time of year to start preparing for winter. It is not to soon to bring awareness to this issue. Warm clothing is needed for many homeless people around the world. Please help be part of the solution this year, wherever it is you live these Holiday seasons.

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