Appreciate

I thought today I would write about something that just made me even step back and think how lucky I was. You see I just had bad timing with many things happening at once and I had 5 surgeries in 6 weeks. Then needing weeks to recover. Money hitting an all time low and sitting in my wheelchair thinking if I wasn't smart enough to cover my rent right now I would have ended up homeless again. 

That's a lesson I never want to experience again. But it made it so easy to see how hard times can so quickly turn someone's life around. Think about this for a moment, How long could you go without earning money before you yourself get into trouble?

For a lot of people it's a matter of weeks or few months.

I was so looking forward to returning back to selling The Big Issue magazines because yes I needed money badly and I still appreciated that I still could and get my life back towards on track.

Today made me so grateful in a way that I had been homeless in the past and now really look for things that can go wrong to cause homeless again. To be honest this makes me want to help homeless people that much more because let's face it, it could happen to anyone just because they had a hard run at life all at once. 

So maybe don't judge someone that is hitting hard times because we may not know what happened to put them there.

This is one reason I brought in "A pie and coke" it means asking a homeless or someone in need if they would like to have lunch with you and just shut up and listen to their story. Sometimes it's can be simple things that helps them get back on their feet for example having a friend that believes in them and offers advice and a kind ear.

I know I have helped many just sitting and having lunch with someone down on their luck and I hope I never stop trying because I have had many success stories.

Thank you for reading my blog and I hope you have a great day.
Grant the polite Guy

Christmas Morning

I would like to start this post by saying that when I write these it's not meant to say I better then anyone because I tend to put a lot of time towards helping people but to say I it's sometimes not hard to make or be the difference and if I can do it then maybe you could too. But in saying that I very much believe people coming together can make wonders happen just look at the Signal Flare BBQ's (Facebook) still happening after a lot of friends and I got together to help.

This post is about my Christmas Day. 

A few days before Christmas I worked and a few people gave me a gift card and some tips and I knew exactly what to do with it. The day before Christmas I went to Coles and bought a bag of sausages and a loaf of bread all excited for Christmas morning.

Christmas morning came and jumped on my scooter and went down to the Wynnum waterway where I knew there was homeless and started going around saying "I didn't have anyone to share Christmas with and would they like to join me" Not saying "Hey your homeless here I have food for you" I think some people make homeless feel worst trying to help by the way things are worded.

I honestly was shocked that 23 homeless people joined me to enjoy time together and sausages on bread. Yes I know I forgot the sauce haha But it was the sitting and just listening to their stories and of course seeing the smiles that made it more then worth while.

I am sad to say we ran out of sausages quickly as I only bought so many but they stay and just chatted. No one had anywhere to go. It was not long before someone (Not me) started the Christmas song which was not good at all for me because I was really bad at singing but I did. haha

No one cared I couldn't sing well and to be honest most of them couldn't either haha But I was there about 4 hours and I must say for the cost of some sausages and bread plus a little bit of time I had one of the best Christmas day I have had in many years. I know I made friends that day and yes I say hi and chat when I see them. 

Yes they are "Homeless People" but if you take the word "Homeless" away then they are "People" just like you and I because they are someone's Mother, Father, Brother, Sister, Uncle, Aunty or even a Cousin. 

I feel the only mistake I made with doing this, well apart from not have sauce is waiting till Christmas day because Christmas day didn't make this great, Going down there did with that bag of sausages and an open heart.

I hope you enjoyed my writing. 
I hope you have a great day, Thank you for reading.
Grant the Polite Guy

grantthepoliteguy@gmail.com

 Now this post was a few weeks in making and it really will make me look bad but I know it's helped 1 boy I hope for the rest of his life.

Every once in a while I get people (Mostly customers) telling me problems from home. I am always willing to listen and even give advice if I can. One problem I hear all to often is someone saying their son or daughter is going down the wrong path and taking to drugs or even going as far as being a dealer.

One morning I will call her Jane bought a magazine and all of a sudden crying while telling me her son started dealing drugs. All I could do is try giving her comforting words and let her know it may be a phase and he will grow out of it. I was feeling bad when my mouth worked before the brain started and said " Can you bring him into the city? I will make out I use drugs in a big way and put across I lost my leg because of a hotshot (A bad dose of drugs).

The words came from my mouth before thinking and then I really was thinking I knew very little of anything about drugs only what people had told me. Sometime homeless would talk to me about drugs and mostly wanting to get off them. But I knew how drug addicts acted from seeing people like that.

She said she could bring her son into the city tomorrow if I wanted to talk to him. I told her I would scare the boy and hope to put on the right path. My plan was to pretend to be a drug addict and show how things can really turn bad. So we set a time and place and I told her I would be there and what to expect from me in a way to help.

All day while selling my Big Issue mags I was thinking what I would say and do but mostly thinking if it didn't work or he didn't believe me then maybe push him more towards that path because at the young age of doing everything against advice and thinking he knows it all. You know what I mean haha

The next morning came and I must say I was nervous, I am not very good at acting and always prefer to me. I had made a sale when I looked up from putting money away I seen (I will call her Susie) when Susie comes I always put my mags down and roll towards the bins where we can have a smoke and chat away from other people. I have a lot of time for Susie because she is a good girl at heart and almost every time we talk she says about getting back on her feet and going to rehab to get off the drugs which I always am positive about people getting back on their feet and stepping up in the world again.

I told Susie I had a chance to help a boy before he gets in too deep with drugs and before I could mention much more she said she would come and help because helping the boy would remind her why she's wants to give up and it was true she had expertise I didn't so I agreed. I felt bad because in a way I felt I was using Susie to help because I was a coward to do it myself because of fear of failing. 

The time came all four turned up and started sitting around a table for a good 5 minutes when Susie grabbed the young guys arm and said they were having a chat at a different table. I went towards the 2 of them 3 times when Susie put her hand out as if to stay away while they talked.

I don't really know what Susie said but I could see a tear building up as if he was about to cry as they walked back and he hugged his mum saying no more doing drugs and he was sorry to put through all this. Jane and her son left and I asked Susie what she said "Simple I said the truth and you owe me lunch." with a feeling good proud smile. We went to a food court and we started talking about how she was going to give up the drugs.

3 Days later Jane walked up to me and was excited her son was not taking drugs and I said they were off to a great start and really in my heart was excited for them both. I have seen Susie a few times since then and we have a smoke together and she still talks about one day going to rehab but today was not going to be the day. I will always be there as a friend and encourage her but at the end of it she needs to make the decision to do it. 

I did change the names out of respect to the people I write about.
Thank you for reading my story and I hope you have a good day. 
Grant the Polite Guy
Grant Richards
grantthepoliteguy@gmail.com 

 Here we go again:

Well I have to say I knew I had to write this post but been putting it off because in a way writing about it makes it more real in my mind and to be honest I can't believe I am back here with my life. 

As a lot of you knew me before or you can read past posts I had an accident and spent 9 months in hospital then became homeless which while working selling Big Issue I was helping many people along the way.

I joined together with Bernie and others to build an amazing charity which is still going today helping thousands of people every year. Signal Flare 

I got on my feet with getting accommodations and getting work as a Traffic controller. I will be honest I couldn't be more prouder. I had done it. I never knocked back extra shifts I always turned up early for work I was a good employee. I was so good I got offered work up at the mines which has same pay rate but many more hours so the money was good. 

I would do 14hrs days, 21 days straight and then 5 days off. Yes that was hard to do but they looked after us well with food and units.

If I could finish the post right here I would be very happy but there is more to the story.

(This part I will lightly write about because I still get nightmares about it)

Having a head on incident with a Road train I was flown back to Brisbane and had PDST with nightmares and being a nervous wreck with shakes all the time.

I didn't work for about 8 months when one of my ex work mates called and told me about a great job in Perth and I had now gain more then enough experience to get the job. All I had to do was a 3 day course because WA road laws are different then apply.

I was unsure because I knew I wasn't really recovered but I thought at least having a go was a great start.

I paid for my flight, course and hotel for the 4 days I would be there. I was trying to be positive thinking getting out and back to work might even help me get stronger faster.

Day 1 I went to the course and I have to say I Ace'd it. I didn't want to just pass this course I wanted to know everything it had to offer so I could use it at work.

I left after the first day beaming with a smile. In my way it was me taking back control of my life and not sitting at home thinking of road trains. I went to the local pub for dinner as the motel not do food. I had curry chicken and rice feeling good about myself

Now I didn't know this at the time but when I was eating a piece of chicken had clung to my esophagus wall (food pipe) and as I was eating more it pushed the chicken down and tore a hole in the wall causing internal bleeding.

I felt fine and went home. About 1 hour later I felt a bit sick like I had a flu or something so I layed down on bed to rest and fell asleep. I woke with blood all over the bed and quickly went to the bathroom for a shower. Blood coming from mouth and other end as I pasted out 2 times in shower. I had tried to stand but fell every time I had no energy so I dragged myself on my belly to the door and tried in a very weak voice to call for help.

I did passed out at the door and woke when ambulance arrived, to be honest I was in and out of consciousness a lot I not remember. I know I was code 1 on the way to hospital and died for 2 minutes at some point.

I woke the next day missing a leg and told what had happened. I had lost so much blood there was no blood flow to my leg so I lost it. They put that down to the fact I have polycythaemia rubra vera which is a strand of Leukemia.

I am sorry if that was hard to read I can say writing it was so much harder

I spent 5 months in hospital in there rehabilitation ward.

Now here I am again selling Big Issue magazines.

All the injuries and losing a leg while having leukemia is going to slow me down but I know I will work hard selling Big Issue and I will bounce back. 

Thank you very much for reading my blog and I hope you have a great day.
I have a donation button if you would like.

Grant the Polite Guy
0476 796 708
grantthepoliteguy@gmail.com 

 

Homeless again

Well as you know I worked hard to get on my feet. But a few days ago I was kicked out and found myself with no money and nowhere to stay. Homeless again.
The difference this time is I  know I can get back on my feet, I just need to stay positive.
I have nothing but a bag of clothes and my car but I know I can do it.
I went back to selling Big Issue magazines which I'm grateful I can.
I have positive news from here though. WOOHOO.
I went to my surgeon appointment and he said the bad pain I have is not because of my blood condition but it's nerve problems which means no more surgery for this little black duck WOOHOO.
In a way getting surgery now would have meant accommodation in hospital for a week so would have been good too. Haha
I found a little one bedroom unit for $235 a week so I'm staying positive about getting the money for first two weeks rent and then putting furniture in it. Starting all over again OHNO.
But when thinking about sleeping in the streets or in my car it's worth it.
So I don't care how many magazines I have yo sell I will get on my feet.
I would like to say that if someone has a spare lounge, bed, kitchen stuff or household items please let me know. grantthepoliteguy@gmail.com
I know I have written about getting back on my feet and then helping so many people do the same. Just know I will be helping others again but first I need to help me now.
Thank you very much for reading my blog and if you like my stories please donate at the top left hand side of screen.
Have a great day.
Grant the Polite Guy
grantthepoliteguy@gmail.com 

Helping Homeless in a big way

Afternoon all, as most of you know I’m going to my last Signal Flare Homeless BBQ this Sunday the 7^th as I am stepping away from the big homeless BBQ’s that I started many years ago and putting a lot more of my efforts towards helping people in a much bigger way one on one. Signal Flare has an amazing board and will continue to grow and do many more events helping thousands of people. I’ll still help with foodvans some nights a week throughout Brisbane when I can though.

I’m going to help homeless and people in need to start getting on their feet more with helping them into accommodations, getting a job, getting counselling, but more so being someone that is happy to walk with them at their pace towards getting on their feet.  

It is hard getting a homeless person a job, big gap in work history and most are not used to working so many hours and to say the least most have no or very little experience in anything. A tough challenge but I think of it this way it’s going to be a lot easier if I’m helping them.

Now I’ve been thinking of different jobs I could help look for which is a challenge because most have no or little experience. Talking with a few mates and great contacts I have in the city we are putting a new project together which I’ll be running at first to build it up and get regular customers while working out the does and don’ts with everything.

I contacted Mayfair Dry Cleaning in the city (The BIGGEST Dry Cleaners in the CBD for 60yrs) and we are going to be offering a pick up and drop off service for people in the city. People book and I’ll come around and pick up the clothes and take to Dry Cleaners once cleaned I’ll deliver them back. Now the best news is the dry cleaners is doing all the billing and everything else I’ll just be doing pick up and deliveries. The Dry Cleaners pay a commission to me so the price is the same for the customers as if they dropped off to the shop. Sounds awesome right!!!

Think of it this way, if this works well all there is to this is picking up and dropping off clothes. I can easily train and give an opportunity to many people who want to get on their feet. Please note I’m not going to be sending homeless into offices to collect dry cleaning, by the time their ready to do this I’ve already helped them in a huge way getting on their feet including having accommodation (If needed) and looks professional.

I know right now you’re thinking but I work outside of the CBD. That’s awesome if you get let’s say 20 items or more then we will come collect as long as within Brisbane suburbs.

Now here’s the great news if we collect before 9am then you’ll have your dry cleaning back within 4-5hrs and all the cleaning and billing is all done through a 60yrs business with a lot of experience. WOOHOO.

I want to add this because it’s important. I am only building this so I can help people in the future when it’s running well but if you drop off yourself to one of his shops then we have no part in it so please click the pick up service it’s free to you, saves you time and your helping people in a positive way.

Right now go to www.mayfairdrycleaners.com.au and book for tomorrow morning pick up.

 

Now a lot of people are asking about what I’m intending to do for Papua New Guinea. I’m still collection toiletries, clothes, food and much more filling a 20ft shipping container to send over and handing everything out for free. But I’m also starting a small business there making PNG branded bikini’s and swim wear for selling to tourist, markets and hopefully overseas. But this business I’ll be setting up and once running I intend to give for free to a family looking to run it. If I can I’ll help set up quite a few business over there and give them away for free to people who show they want to run a business. Of course I’ll make sure they know everything needed and introduce them to many contacts in that field who will offer advice and help.

Writing all this I just realized I have a lot of favours to ask from a lot of my contacts depending what they do. Hahahaha.

I work real hard and get amazing results for someone who don’t get paid and in fact sells Big Issue mags for income.

Thank you very much for reading my blog and I hope you have a great day. If you enjoy my stories or writing please consider donating using the “Donation Button” at the top left of the screen.

Grant Richards
Grant the Polite Guy
grantthepoliteguy@gmail.com

Fired Up

Firstly I’m really sorry I had to delete my last few post.

I was very depressed earlier this morning, but to be honest it was someone that knew me as a homeless guy that really renewed my fire in helping people.

You see when he knew me I was homeless with nothing and I got an idea of asking a lot of people for clothes they didn’t want, toiletries and food and started my first Homeless BBQ where we helped about 400 homeless. It went on to doing BBQ’s every 8 weeks and a couple of years later turned into a charity “Signal Flare” which is still going and doing events every 8 weeks.

I was depressed because I over the last few months I wanted to start helping people in Papua New Guinea which is very much a 3^rd world country and only a few hundred kilometres away from Australian shores . I went to my own charity and two others to ask for help. I was rejected and told no. I felt like giving up and quitting.

No I asked and he don’t want me to mention his name so I’ll call him “Tom”

Tom asked me if I had the same charities helping with the first Homeless BBQ I did? I said no

Tom asked if I still did the Big Issue magazines for income. I said Yes.

He went on to say how inspired he was just knowing me because aside of all the spinal damage, being homeless, having nothing to my name I still was so determined to make them BBQ’s happen just to help others. He did say more but I don’t want a BIG head writing it, haha

He went on to ask why was I down because a few people don’t want to support me in this project? My answer was easy “Because it’d be easier” haha. “Then it wouldn’t be a project worthy of you mate. If it was easy others would have already done it.”

Believe when I say I’m all fired up again and I’m going to still help homeless and people need in Australia but I guarantee I am going to get shipping containers, fill them with clothes, toiletries and canned food then ship them and hand out everything for free to people who really are doing things tough. Then I’m going put windows and a door in the shipping container and give it for free to a family to live in.

Also I’m going to think of and help put some kind of business’s together to hand to people to own and run as a means of earning income. This seems hard right now but unless someone says let’s get it done it’ll never get easier.

So I’m going back to my basics like I was before and being “Grant the Polite Guy” a Big Issue vendor that helps people.

I’m going to make this post short because I have a lot of calls to make.

I don’t believe one man can make a difference, but I believe a lot of people can get help when a community comes together to say “I give a shit and want to help.”

Thank you very much for reading my blog. I hope you all have a great day. If you like my stories/writing please feel free to donate using the top right hand of the screen button.

Grant the Polite Guy
Grant Richards

grantthepoliteguy@gmail.com

Christmas Event

This is another Homeless BBQ we did 2 weeks ago. Sorry I just didn't have time to post it here.

Wow what an amazing day, We had our "Signal Flare & Dalton Hospitality Xmas BBQ 4 the Homeless & Others in Need" and of course it was a huge success helping in the high hundreds of Homeless and People in Need.

 I want to give credit where credit is due, Berni Palings, Anna Croce and Janet Munro our Signal Flare Board worked there butt off for countless hours planning and bringing everything together for the event to even start.

Jerome Dalton from Dalton's Hospitality brought a huge workforce together to not only collect the food but to prep it, bring a kitchen to the event and cook everything so perfectly. It not an easy task but Jerome always puts his hand up high to offer. Mate Thank You.

Tami Dunn from Share the Dignity as always for turning up and making 150+ women feel more dignity by donating handbags filled with toiletries which is just amazing.

Jay Larkins mate your the man, you drove that van going back and forth picking up and dropping off homeless all day in the hot sun. Thank you.

 Santa (Rod Hyatt) as always you made this such a special day sitting on such a hot day handing out presents to Homeless and people in need kids. The smiles were on every child and to me that makes your time and efforts priceless.

Belinda Adams you are such an amazing person, you collected the present and even fund raised to collect even more presents to give for kids that may not get a present at all this year. Truly an inspiration.

Dave and Denise you both helped in such a huge way getting collections and even driving all the way from the Gold Coast just to deliver even though you couldn't stay and see all the good work you done.

Lisa Ann Sylvester your an amazing cook and even brought cooked cookies from home, you are always happy to help and truly someone I think highly so I say Thank you.

Carolin Petzke I don't think you have ever missed an event, you truly are amazing and is always first to pitch in and give a hand. Thank you for being you.

Amanda Rodgers turning up to give FREE hair cuts all day is truly an inspiration. You do such great work. Thank you so much for everything you did for the homeless today.

Susan Nitz you little champ, you always have a smile and help as much as you can. Really Thank you for being you.

Kelly Danvers and family were amazing all day. I did stop to look and was inspired just seeing this family helping in such a huge way.

Theresa White and family was an inspiration knowing such great people were out there.

Christine Spicer not only did you come to help out but you brought people that needed help and looked after them. I wish there were more people like you.

Susan Wanmer Thank you so much for everything you did, you really are an amazing person and I say Thank you.

Natascha Mirosch you helped raise money to hire a van so we could do pickups and so much more. I want to say Thank you and I'm inspired just knowing you.

Angie Watson and Brian Mclucas are amazing people, you both organized Christmas presents from and workmates to give to the homeless. Amazing.

Austin Lewinsmith Mate, you are an inspiration to me and are helping me so much to even help me on my feet building a successful business. You brought your two boys and friend to help Homeless and People in Need. But the most impressive thing is that I know how successful you are with everything in life and yet you made time to spend helping Homeless and People in Need, but more importantly teach your kids the same values in helping others in need. You are a great guy and I'm proud to know you.

The people from “The World Food Markets” donating hundreds of beautiful donuts and helping out on the day.

Now I know I'm missing at least half of the incredible people there today making a difference but I couldn't seem to tag you for some reason.

 

I want to say a HUGE "THANK YOU" to all that helped and made today a HUGE success. You are all amazing people

 

 

I'd like to thank you all for reading my posts, and please know I only have one Christmas wish and that's, "Your safe over the Holidays". Make my wish come true please.

Have an awesome day.

Grant the Polite Guy.

 

grantthepoliteguy@gmail.com 

Comming together as a Community Goodna

WOW what a day yesterday was, but first a quick recap.
Over 1,000 of JBS beef workers have had huge hours cut coming down to 2 days a week and some weeks no work at all and all this has been happening since January this year. A lot of these workers have been there for 10+ years.
This means a lot of these families are now having trouble making “ends meat” so to speak.
Buying food for their families or paying rent?

Doing a joint effort with Helen from “Goodna Street Life” and “Signal Flare” we collected huge amounts of food and toiletries with a huge amount coming from “Share the Dignity”
We all did a call out and asking the community to come together and help people in need when they needed it most. Helpers, food and toiletries came from everywhere.

Pallets of food, Boxes of everything and people brought car loads of stuff they had collected from friends and families all came together to help. It really was an amazing sight-seeing so many people wanting to help.

About 600 worker families that had been doing it so tough and hitting hardship came and collected only what they needed so others could collect too. There were “Thank you’s” everywhere. A lot of the people helping even had to step away once or twice because it was so heartfelt to see such need.

I’m sorry to say that even though we had collected so much we still didn’t have enough food or toiletries. I felt so bad that here we were saying to these people we know your in a bad way and to come down and we will help you then when they turn up there’s nothing there for them. I quickly grabbed a pen and paper and started writing down names and phone numbers saying I’ll quickly do a call out and get food and toiletries to them within the next few days.

So over the next 2-3 days I’m collecting as much food and things as I can to quickly get them out there to the families that didn’t get anything.

Also because of such hardship we are doing the event again but this time in a much bigger way with a lot more food and toiletries. On the 1^st of OCT at “Goodna Street Life” 2 Mill St, Goodna from 10am.

So once again I am asking please help us to help others, we need any types of FOOD and TOILETRIES so we can give for free to these people doing it so tough. If many people donate a few things then it adds up to be truck loads.

Thank you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now this next bit I’m very very excited about. WOOHOO

Everyone knows I make such little money as a Big Issue vendor but I try to help as many people as I can.

I have started a new referring business that is going to be awesome, here’s how it works.

You go to the site and compare things like power, mobile phones deal and even home internet. It could even be the same company you already use. For example if you wanted a new mobile phone, go to the site and click mobile phone and it’ll bring up Vodafone website with my link attached. You get the same deal you would with Vodafone anyway but they’ll pay me 10% every time you pay your bill for a referring commission.

I could use this money to help so many more people in a huge way and people get the same deal they were on. It don’t matter which company you’re on, please compare if you get same or better deal and switch using my site.

I love this, it’ll earn money and free my time to help more people click here www.ahandup.acndirect.com 

The best news is that it’s not Australia, this site works in lots of countries around the world. Just click your country flag and it’ll bring up your local services. If anyone wants help setting up their own site let me know and I’ll be happy to help you set it up for you.

Have you clicked to site yet? Just check it out and see how easy it is.

I’d like to ask everyone though when you choose a service or package could you please email me your name and what service you did so I can track and make sure it went under my link right. Accidents happens.

Grant the Polite Guy
Grant Richards

grantthepoliteguy@gmail.com

Helping 1,000 families

I got a phone call from “Helen” at “Goodna Street Life” asking for help for a lady which is going to be one of my biggest challenges yet.

I meet up with Helen and this lady “Angie” to work out what has happened and what was need. I soon found out that since Jan 500 people were fired and all remaining workers had their hours cut by half and even some weeks no work at all. Angie and her husband both work for the meatworks and since their living only on little hours were having trouble each and every week.

Feeling sad for her I asked what can we do to help? Her reply was just asking for food and toiletries for her family and families effected and hurting as well.

I quickly thought how we should help because to me helping a family going through such tough times they could easily fall backwards and become homeless without support, I would rather help people not becoming homeless instead of waiting for them to become homeless and then help.

I asked how many families are we talking about needing help with food and toiletries.

1,000 workers with families.

Now don’t get me wrong I heard the words and almost fell over. We do HUGE homeless BBQ every 8 weeks, but this was getting resources for not just 1,000 people but 1,000 families and if I was going to hold this event we might as well invite homeless and people in need in the area and help them too.

I took a second to remember I had bad health and I myself was only a Big Issue Vendor making very little money myself. But this wasn’t about me and these people needed help. I knew I would have contact “Bernie the Polite Girl” and our Signal Flare team to help bring the community together and ask for help to help them.

On the 18^th in a week we will be helping well over a 1,000 people at
“Goodna Street Life”
2 Mill St Goodna
10am – 2pm

We desperately need helpers, food, clothes and toiletries. As much as we can.

Let’s show the community coming together to show we care and give a hand up.

I can be contacted on email grantthepoliteguy@gmail.com or selling my Big Issues in the city.

 

 

Now this next bit I’m very very excited about. WOOHOO

Everyone knows I make such little money as a Big Issue vendor but I try to help as many people as I can.

I have started a new referring business that is going to be awesome, here’s how it works.

You go to the site and compare things like power, mobile phones deal and even home internet. It could even be the same company you already use. For example if you wanted a new mobile phone, go to the site and click mobile phone and it’ll bring up Vodafone website with my link attached. You get the same deal you would with Vodafone anyway but they’ll pay me 10% every time you pay your bill for a referring commission.

I could use this money to help so many more people in a huge way and people get the same deal they were on. It don’t matter which company you’re on, please compare if you get same or better deal and switch using my site.

I love this, it’ll earn money and free my time to help more people click here www.ahandup.acndirect.com  

The best news is that it’s not Australia, this site works in lots of countries around the world. Just click your country flag and it’ll bring up your local services. If anyone wants help setting up their own site let me know and I’ll be happy to help you set it up for you.

Have you clicked to site yet? Just check it out and see how easy it is.

I’d like to ask everyone though when you choose a service or package could you please email me your name and what service you did so I can track and make sure it went under my link right. Accidents happens.

I’d like to thank you very much for reading my blog and I hope you all have an awesome day. Remember in 7 days we are helping over a 1,000 people in need so if you can help please do.

Grant the Polite Guy
Grant Richards

grantthepoliteguy@gmail.com

Hero's

Well last Sunday we did another Homeless BBQ helping a lot of people with free food, clothes, toiletries and much more and that’s something to feel good about because it’s helping so many people, but really the biggest joy for me this time was watching organizations and people who just want to help come together as a community to help homeless and people in need when they need it most.

I have lost track of how many BBQ’s we have done but it’s every 8 weeks for at least the last 8 ½ years. That’s thousands and thousands of people getting help. Something to say “A job well done” not just me because I started it but the community because I couldn’t have ever done it on my own.

Then there’s the people we have helped one on one. Amazing.

To think a homeless guy with nothing started all this. WOOHOO.

Now I want to take the focus off me and share a few pics of some amazing people who helped come together to make a difference in people’s lives they have never meet. These guys are Hero’s

 

 

Grant the Polite Guy
Grant Richards

grantthepoliteguy@gmail.com

Here I go again

Well it’s true I always like looking at the positives in life and things I do. As a lot of you know I recently had my whole leg artery transplant and I couldn’t walk right for about 10 weeks, I even used one of them mobile scooters just to get about.

Well with different expenses and things I lost my unit, there just wasn’t enough money for everything. Now before anyone starts worrying and things I am good, I am temporary staying with someone and one thing I know is that if I work hard I can get back on my feet again.

The Homeless BBQ’s we do helping hundreds of people every event with food, clothes, toiletries and things will still go ahead every 8 weeks and still making a huge difference to help homeless and people in need.

I have started selling the Big Issue magazines again in the city as a means to earn income to get on my feet which really is great for me because I’ll see and keep in touch with homeless and yes still (When I have money) do my “Pie and Coke” which means buying a homeless person food and drink and sitting down having a chat about how they can get on their feet. Thinking about doing this brings joy to me because some of the happiest moments in my life was helping someone get on their feet even when I was homeless, you see not all problems cost money to fix, sometimes making a phone call changes everything.

So for my positive part, yes I lost my unit but now I’ll be spending a lot more time helping and being around homeless which enables me to help so many more people. I believe I will get back into another place soon though with hard work selling my mags, so if you see me and want one please come by and say “Hi”

Another positive which you all will like is that I’ll have lot’s of amazing stories of real life homeless I can write about which for most will inspire you because it’s amazing watching some of these guys getting back on their feet and what they go through getting there.

I hope you all have a great day and if you like my stories please consider using the donation button on the top right hand corner of the screen

Grant the Polite Guy
Grant Richards

0412 190 011

grantthepoliteguy@gmail.com

Done a lot

WOOHOO I’m glad to be writing again. I am sorry I stopped but I really got busy doing everything to help other homeless. I did keep doing my Homeless BBQ’s every 8 weeks which reminds me that the next Signal Flare Homeless and People in Need BBQ is at Musgrave Park on Sunday the 8^th of May. Yes I know its Mother’s Day, but really there’s lots of mothers out there that are homeless with their kids. At this event as always we will be giving free Food, clothes, toiletries, blankets, kids toys and much more to homeless and people in need.

We have started projects were we help families that are homeless and helping them to find accommodations then decking out the place for free turning it into a home with everything needed.

We started helping people on a One on One basis where we help a homeless person find accommodation, deck it out with everything need, give that person a complete make-over including job interview clothes, get a job all with 7 days. Making a huge difference.

Lately I’ve had to slow down because of bad health. About 2 weeks ago I had a Fem right leg artery bypass and then again the next day because it didn’t work first time leaving me with a scar from just above my groin to just below my knee, not able to walk very well. The Doc say 4 weeks before I can drive, 6 weeks before I can walk without aid and 10 weeks extreme light duties.

This has slowed me down but the Homeless BBQ’s will still go ahead thanks to the awesome people we have on our Board and the heart of the community coming together to help which has been the same for the last 8yrs doing them.

I asked for donations on Facebook and borrowed money to buy a second hand mobile scooter which I use to get around and YES WOOHOO I’m able to go back to selling the Big Issue mags again meaning I can make money again and help homeless by buying them a “Pie & Coke”

I might feel down and not able to do much, but I’ll never quit or give up. I did that once and never will again.

I look forward to writing my stories and sharing them with you all.

Thank you very much for reading my blog and I hope you all have an awesome day.

Grant the Polite Guy
Grant Richards

0412 190 011

grantthepoliteguy@gmail.com

Community showing heart

Time to make a difference and show there’s heart in the world. WOOHOO.

A few weeks ago I posted on Facebook and helped a Single dad with 4 kids (Youngest 1yr) that the mother went to the bank on payday and 3 days later still had not come back. We helped with lots of food and things like that which I’ll always remember because the kids opened boxes of food as if it was Christmas and was excited.

An update is,

She came back with a new boyfriend and kicked him and kids out. House in her name (World War 5)

With help the Dad and 4 kids who are upset and going through hell right now got a 3 bedroom home.

I sat down with him and he’s really hurting, seems like his whole world is being turned upside down and for no fault of his own but he’s trying hard to be strong in front of the kids. One of the biggest problems he had was even though he now had a 3 bedroom house he has nothing to put in it except a few changes of clothes.

I asked if he and the kids could stay at his mother’s for 2 more days and not worry about the house, I asked for the keys.

In my heart I want to help with everything I have. Let this whirlwind of upset stop so this single dad and kids can start getting on with their lives again.

Here’s my plan. WOOHOO

Deck out a whole house in 48hrs asking the community to come together and help with Beds, furnisher, kids toys, kitchen things, bathroom things and everything else needed. Something like what them T.V shows do and let the Dad and kids open the doors to a new beautiful family home. Yes everything will be second hand but all heart.

The way I have seen homeless people is that at one point in their lives things become very tough and just at that point things go good or very bad. The difference could be someone stepping up saying “Mate I’ll help you through these difficult times”.

Stepping away I held the keys and started making calls. Being a Sunday most places were closed but Impact Church (https://www.facebook.com/impactchurchltd/?fref=ts ) answered and started telling their network of people to help. Within hours they collected

Enough beds with mattresses, Towels, Dryer, Lounge that folds out into a bed, Fridge, Some toys, Clothes, Nappies (always need more) Desks X 2, Office chair, Bench top oven, Some linen...not sure what sizes, Dining table and chairs

Now I’m going to work out what else is needed and get started. I know I’m going to make sure all the cupboards are full of food, pots and pans, lots of kids toys, a computer for learning for the 7-8yrs, coffee table,T.V, microwave and a mountain of things I can’t even think of.

One thing I am doing a plea on is I am asking if anyone is free tomorrow (Monday) to help collect and set all this up?

If you can please call Grant the Polite Guy on 0412 190 011

I’m going to shop this guy and kids that they are special and the community has a lot of heart for them.

So Proud

I was just sitting here thinking, feeling very proud of myself. Yes I was very successful in life before my accident that put me in and out of hospitals for 9 months. I lost everything including my home, family and became homeless. But I’m more proud of the fact that I have in my eyes turned everything around.

I started selling Big Issue magazines instead of going on Disability pension. I started helping other homeless along the way even when times were tough for me, buying food and things for others when I had extra money.

I am proud to say I have made some incredible friends selling the Big Issue and together we started doing free food, clothes and toiletries at the park for other homeless  and people in need.  400 turned up at our first event.

We kept doing our Homeless BBQ’s every 8 weeks for about 5 years now and they have gotten bigger. Every event I didn’t know if we would get all the food, clothes and toiletries to hand out for free but we did it. Not one coin is exchanged at our events, except if a homeless gets a job on the day, then I grab a hat and race around to all the volunteers and ask for tips to helping pay for work clothes, accommodation, money on Go-cards for travel, lots of food and things like that. But a lot of times I try to save my money from selling mags to pay for it without passing the hat.

With smart people doing all the work we started a non for profit charity called “Signal Flare” which I still have not figured out how to get it big enough to receive a wage for all the great work I do haha

As I said we do these events every 8 weeks, the next event is going to be the hardest and biggest one yet. 10^th of October at Musgrave Park 10am – 2pm. You see I understand that a lot of homeless and people in need have mental health issues so at this event we are going to be doing a joint event with “Sanity Fair” which helps brings all the Mental Health services there.

There’s a lot of things I still don’t know how we are going to do it, this will be huge. But I know quitting or canceling the event will never happen. It’ll come together. Volunteers needing that’s for sure.

Homeless will be able to get free food, clothes, toiletries, blankets, kids toys and much more while seeing what all the mental health services do as a service. Now this is going to help a lot of people.

I have often said I don’t do all this, it’s the community coming together to do the “Aussie Mate” thing and offer to help a person when they need a hand up. Everyone hits hard times.

I have been invited to at least 50+ weddings from people that have got on their feet, meet someone and thought enough of me to invite, some even asked for me to be ‘Best Man’

We have had employers come to these events just to offer a homeless person a new start and give them a job which is awesome, yes I have been offered to but with my injuries and things I would only be letting the employer down, beside I’d rather help someone else.

I see so much good karma coming back in my own way, you see I was very unwell and spent time in hospital, so many people came to visit me, homeless and working people that I thought at one stage I might have to do a rooster for visit times. Haha

Best of all why I’m feeling so proud right now. I see so many smiles and get so many Thank You’s that I know I have made a difference.

Thank you very much for reading my blog and I hope you all have an awesome day. If you like my writing please donate using the "Donation Button" at the top left of the screen.

Grant the Polite Guy
Grant Richards
0142 190 011
grantthepoliteguy@gmail.com

Cherbourg needs our help.

Well a week ago we did our “Homeless and People in Need BBQ” for the town of Cherbourg. I remember thinking of how proud I was, because all we did is put the word out there about Cherbourg being in need. People gave up their weekends to travel hundreds of kms each way to help people they had never even meet, each paying their own expenses. Most staying in caravans, tents etc to get the early start Sunday morning. All heart and I’m proud to say their friends/mates I want to know in life.

Around 900 Aboriginal People of Cherbourg came and got free food, clothes, toiletries, school stationery, blankets and the thing that brought a proud smile was the around two full trailers full of kids toys. Watching some of these kids getting the toys and thinking it was just like Christmas Day made me feel good and sad at the same time. You see I kept thinking of these people are so poor that on Christmas Day is there any presents for the kids. Not one toy was left. But just up a bit all these kids started playing with these balls and toys. The biggest smiles showing all day.

We helped families with boxes of food to take home and everything not taken was handed to the closest church for them to hold and hand out for free to others when they need them.

I’m writing this post with a lot heart because these people effected me that much. To be honest everyone I meet was polite and not one person was greedy, they took only what they very much needed and let others have as well. For me the perfect BBQ.

I have always said the people in need are not the only ones getting help at our BBQ’s, the people helping like me feel a pleasure at heart for being able to help someone in such need. People in need thankful for the help and the helpers thankful for being there to help. All heart.

While the BBQ event was going I took some time out to speak to some of the Aboriginal Elders and people from the community to ask what Signal Flare could do to help in a bigger way ongoing. Nearly all talked about how there wasn’t hope because with nearly 2,000 people in town and thousand nearby and only a few jobs going. The fact was we could only see one shop in the whole town and that was a cafe. Very heartbreaking to hear.

The event finished and we left Sunday afternoon, Bernie “Bernie the Polite Girl” and I stayed up late talking about how we could help more and in a bigger way, we really felt for these people doing it so tough here in Australia. 9am we called the council to plan a meeting, 10am Tuesday we had the heads of the council meeting us in their meeting room to discuss what more we could do.

It’s hard to believe but one of the first things they mentioned was the kids don’t own bikes. Now don’t get me wrong but I thought being a child it meant they get to experience such joys as learning to ride a bike and of course crashing haha.  

Right away we said we would do an appeal asking everyone we know to donate any used bikes they never use anymore. They said they would help by bringing in locals that teaches the kids how to repair them. So you got it, at the end of this post I’m asking you if you have old bikes you don’t use anymore to give to a child that may never have had one.

They mentioned their one and only shop in the town saying it needed fixingup/ upgrading which would mean they could employ an extra one or two people if bigger. We asked how much? $5,000

We chatted about other projects but said let’s start by getting these two done first.

Who would have thought I started homeless here in this blog and now I’m talking about helping a whole town. Yes very proud of myself, I just wish my own health wasn’t so bad and stopping me from working myself.

So here’s the ending and plea, if you have any old bikes, helmets or repair kits you never want to see again please donate them so we may give them to kids that some have never had a bike in their lives. Let their childhood be of happy memories which a lot of us think should be a right for every child. Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/507634632748217

Please help us to raise the $5,000 to help their one and only shop to repair and grow, employing new staff, giving an employment opportunity to someone praying for a job in a jobless community.

Signal Flare is a Not for Profit and does not employ anyone, 100% of all money goes directly to helping people.

Bank Details for ‘Signal Flare’
Bank: BOQ

BSB: 124-001

ACC: 22066259

For a Tax Deductable Receipt email “Helena” at signalflare_treasurer@yahoo.com

 

Thank you for reading my blog and I hope you all have an awesome day. If you like my writing and things I do please donate at the top left hand side of this screen.

Grant the Polite Guy

Grant Richards

grantthepoliteguy@gmail.com

0412 190 011