How Do You Feel Loved?
For some, the answer is
A Hug and A Honey Bun
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There are copious public resources available to help those in need.
There are copious public resources available to help those in need.
But many in need do not choose or can not make the choice to receive those resources.
But many in need do not choose or can not make the choice to receive those resources.
Operation Honey Bun was created to meet people where they are, see them as lovable, valuable people, and give them some time, attention and tangible love.
Operation Honey Bun was created to meet people where they are, see them as lovable, valuable people, and give them some time, attention and tangible love.
Because we are humans. Being humans.
Because we are humans. Being humans.
Operation Honey Bun started at sunrise.....
Operation Honey Bun started at sunrise.....
in the fall of 2021 on Miami Beach, unofficially, as a response to the beautiful, kind people that said "Good Morning" and "I can help you carry your stuff!" They were people living on or near the beach that saw me arrive to set up Miami Beach Boot Camp workouts. People who were just waking up after sleeping on and around the beach, experiencing homelessness or living in vehicles nearby who loved my smile and eye contact.
in the fall of 2021 on Miami Beach, unofficially, as a response to the beautiful, kind people that said "Good Morning" and "I can help you carry your stuff!" They were people living on or near the beach that saw me arrive to set up Miami Beach Boot Camp workouts. People who were just waking up after sleeping on and around the beach, experiencing homelessness or living in vehicles nearby who loved my smile and eye contact.
I took their help happily and they, without fail, brought so much joy to my heart with their helpfulness, energy and humor. I started stopping after class to chat with them, listen to them and get to know their names. They were usually looking for food so I often brought a few protein bars with me to hand out or a box of donuts. It brought me joy. Like nothing I can describe.
I took their help happily and they, without fail, brought so much joy to my heart with their helpfulness, energy and humor. I started stopping after class to chat with them, listen to them and get to know their names. They were usually looking for food so I often brought a few protein bars with me to hand out or a box of donuts. It brought me joy. Like nothing I can describe.
Most of the day, these people are shooed out of public places, never welcomed or loved on and certainly not listened to. I can't solve their problems but I can treat them with love for a few minutes.
Most of the day, these people are shooed out of public places, never welcomed or loved on and certainly not listened to. I can't solve their problems but I can treat them with love for a few minutes.
I started stocking up my car with pastries, snacks and bottles of water and making sure I made the rounds of the area to hand as much out as I could before heading home.
I started stocking up my car with pastries, snacks and bottles of water and making sure I made the rounds of the area to hand as much out as I could before heading home.
Soon, as I noticed more things they could use and asked what they needed, I was putting together bags of soaps, socks and hand sanitizer and expanding my walk to find more people to talk to, hug and share some laughs.
Soon, as I noticed more things they could use and asked what they needed, I was putting together bags of soaps, socks and hand sanitizer and expanding my walk to find more people to talk to, hug and share some laughs.
On rainy days when class was cancelled, I'd go down to the beach anyway but bring a box of coffee and a few dozen donuts and stay for a little donut party under the beach shelter.
On rainy days when class was cancelled, I'd go down to the beach anyway but bring a box of coffee and a few dozen donuts and stay for a little donut party under the beach shelter.
We laughed a lot, I heard so many stories of their lives and then we all enjoyed the fun of deciding which donut was tastiest. It lit me up and brought me more joy than I could describe.
We laughed a lot, I heard so many stories of their lives and then we all enjoyed the fun of deciding which donut was tastiest. It lit me up and brought me more joy than I could describe.
Then I started to bring fun things too - especially to the ladies. Lip gloss and eye shadow, pretty socks and fun hair ties, nail polish and frivolous treats.
Then I started to bring fun things too - especially to the ladies. Lip gloss and eye shadow, pretty socks and fun hair ties, nail polish and frivolous treats.
Why?
Why?
We all have needs but it's always fun to get something that lights us up. Who remembers getting clothes for Christmas as a kid? Nice but not fun. Needed and appreciated but incomparable to the FUN STUFF!
We all have needs but it's always fun to get something that lights us up. Who remembers getting clothes for Christmas as a kid? Nice but not fun. Needed and appreciated but incomparable to the FUN STUFF!
Learning Moment:
Learning Moment:
At Christmas, I asked my friends if they wanted to help put together some extra treats, hygiene kits, socks and gifts to hand out. The response was huge. Miami Beach Boot Camp and my friends put together $1,500 in just a week and we spent Christmas Day spreading love and treats, socks and hugs to as many people we could find around the beach. It was SO much fun, we loved on so many people and I learned two big things:
At Christmas, I asked my friends if they wanted to help put together some extra treats, hygiene kits, socks and gifts to hand out. The response was huge. Miami Beach Boot Camp and my friends put together $1,500 in just a week and we spent Christmas Day spreading love and treats, socks and hugs to as many people we could find around the beach. It was SO much fun, we loved on so many people and I learned two big things:
1) Other people want to love on people too - and we can do MUCH more together
1) Other people want to love on people too - and we can do MUCH more together
2) Out of all treats.... Honey Buns are the favorite.
2) Out of all treats.... Honey Buns are the favorite.
Hence, my dream was born to start an organization to help others join the fun and joy of loving on people in these small, tangible and joyful ways.
Hence, my dream was born to start an organization to help others join the fun and joy of loving on people in these small, tangible and joyful ways.
Operation Honey Bun
Operation Honey Bun
Our mission: To be humans full of love, showing love to other humans.
Our mission: To be humans full of love, showing love to other humans.
What we do: We give eye contact, conversation, food, drinks, hygiene items, socks and honey buns to anyone who wants any or all of these tokens of human kindness.
What we do: We give eye contact, conversation, food, drinks, hygiene items, socks and honey buns to anyone who wants any or all of these tokens of human kindness.
How Can You Help?
How Can You Help?
You can help by providing funds to keep us stocked with Honey Buns, Hygiene Kits, Gatorade, Coffee, Socks, Fruit and other items we hand out.
You can help by providing funds to keep us stocked with Honey Buns, Hygiene Kits, Gatorade, Coffee, Socks, Fruit and other items we hand out.
$5 provides a hygiene kit, a honey bun and a beverage to a person who loves to get it.
$5 provides a hygiene kit, a honey bun and a beverage to a person who loves to get it.
We purchase in bulk and get great prices on small shampoo, hand sanitizer, soaps, socks and other items. We watch for sales on bananas, fruit and will rescue perishables if possible for free to hand out in the area.
We purchase in bulk and get great prices on small shampoo, hand sanitizer, soaps, socks and other items. We watch for sales on bananas, fruit and will rescue perishables if possible for free to hand out in the area.
I am your feet on the ground to organize and distribute here in Miami Beach along with other volunteers who love to go out and meet people in Miami Beach.
I am your feet on the ground to organize and distribute here in Miami Beach along with other volunteers who love to go out and meet people in Miami Beach.
We will be expanding to offer an Operation Honey Bun kit to anyone around the country who wants to partner with us to hold Operation Honey Bun Handouts in their communities.
We will be expanding to offer an Operation Honey Bun kit to anyone around the country who wants to partner with us to hold Operation Honey Bun Handouts in their communities.
Consider donating today and making your donation recurring so you can feel good about continually sending love from your human heart to another!
Consider donating today and making your donation recurring so you can feel good about continually sending love from your human heart to another!
Kristen Smith, Founder &Director
Kristen Smith, Founder &Director
Why Honey Buns?
Why Honey Buns?
Honey Buns are super popular as hand out treats.
Honey Buns are super popular as hand out treats.
•They're soft and easy to chew for anyone with dental issues or dentures.
•They're soft and easy to chew for anyone with dental issues or dentures.
•They're sweet, which everyone loves.
•They're sweet, which everyone loves.
•They have a long shelf life so we can buy in bulk.
•They have a long shelf life so we can buy in bulk.
•They're inexpensive so a little $ goes a long way.
•They're inexpensive so a little $ goes a long way.
We also hand out fresh fruit when possible, protein bars, Gatorade, hot coffee, socks, chap stick, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, Band-Aids, soap and mouth wash. But we lead with "hi...do you want a Honey Bun?"
We also hand out fresh fruit when possible, protein bars, Gatorade, hot coffee, socks, chap stick, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, Band-Aids, soap and mouth wash. But we lead with "hi...do you want a Honey Bun?"
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