Improving Lives...Starting with a Bean

An issue that everyone is very well aware of is homelessness. Regardless of the hour that I walk into work, or when I go out with friends, I can see those less fortunate than me on the streets. And that’s only a slight view of the full issue. Many are already in shelters or other abodes, but have no work and cannot see any opportunities to get out of their situations. There are plenty of options for society to help these folks today by donating money, time, clothing and food to local shelters and soup kitchens. But how can we also help these individuals create a better future for themselves?

The founder of the Women’s Bean Project* in Denver, Colorado had that exact thought when she witnessed women in a local shelter. The women were safe, but where would they go to make a change in their lives? By creating the Woman’s Bean Project, she created a process where women can learn the necessary skills to gain employment.  Each woman who is accepted into the program is held accountable for her appearance, hygiene, staying off any sort of harmful substance, and especially her work skills.  She must come to work on time everyday and stay on task.  The tasks start in the production line, but as individuals improve, they are able to move into other positions within the organization including marketing, sales and accounting.  The Women’s Bean Project works to ensure that by the time a woman leaves the program after six months, she has learned a multitude of life skills in additional to the jobs that she performed within the organization.  And when the program is over, the Women’s Bean Project then helps women with their decisions to either find employment, continue their education, or even work at another community non-profit if they wish. 

Want to help? There’s a few volunteering opportunities listed on their site, but one of the best ways to help is to purchase some of the items that are being produced by these wonderful women! Local stores in Colorado sell some of these items, but you can also purchase food items, jewelry and more straight from their site. I first came across the Women’s Bean Project while shopping in Belmar for my sister’s birthday.  I bought a beautiful ladle that was decorated by one of the women at the project, and it also came with a bag of beans with a soup recipe!  What drew me to the item was that each tag was signed by a different woman in black sharpie.  I knew the name of the woman who produced this product, and was able to provide her with a silent ‘thank-you’ for the work that went into creating it!

There are other opportunities to help as well, including hiring some of the graduates of the program!  Please take some time today to browse their site at www.womensbeanproject.com to read about all the accomplishments they have made since 1989 and even read about individual journeys made by the women who were accepted into the project. 

This was an example of someone diving in beneath the surface of an issue. Yes, there are people struggling with homelessness, bad situations, and unemployment. And yes, there are programs to help these people in the short term. But thanks to the Women’s Bean Project and other similar organizations, these women have the choice to make a better future for themselves. People do change, they just need a little nudge sometimes. And the Women’s Bean Project nudges them down the right path.

*Please note that for these first few posts, including this one, I have NOT directly contacted the Women’s Bean Project.  This post is meant to be informational only at this time, and as this blog gains in popularity, I will be revisiting this topic again with proper interviews.