Homelessness is a problem that affects millions of people around the world.
On the bright side, there are a slew of amazing people in all different countries who are doing their best to make a real difference, like these two teens who gave out 100 McDonald's burgers to the homeless.
And when I saw the brilliant idea that these incredible folks came up with to help the homeless, I absolutely had to know more.
Two friends in the Netherlands came up with one of the most inventive ways to help homeless people that I've ever seen. Together, they formed a company called the Sheltersuit Foundation that makes an amazing product to help the homeless stay warm when they have to sleep outdoors. And the best part, they make these products to give away free to those in need.
Not only is this one of the most amazing ideas ever, but I also couldn't believe what each product was made from: old tents!
What do you think of these Sheltersuits? Let us know in the comments.
h/t Dezeen
In an effort to help the homeless population worldwide, two Dutch friends founded the Sheltersuit Foundation in 2014. They posted on Facebook, 'The purpose of Sheltersuit is to produce and give away as many Sheltersuits for people being forced to sleep outside in the cold.'
But what exactly is a Sheltersuit? 'The Sheltersuit is a free product for those who need it and consists of a warm jacket with an attachable sleeping bag.'
And perhaps the most amazing part is that each suit is constructed using recycled materials from old tents. As a result, 'both the jacket and the sleeping bag are suitable for use in extreme cold and are water- and windproof.'
The wonderful people behind these incredible suits are attempting to help the homeless little by little. In early November, they posted, 'Did you know every 20 hours a homeless person dies in France? With the help of many donors, we have 50 Sheltersuits waiting to be distributed to the Parisian homeless.'
While progress may be slow at first, the foundation accepts donations of money and materials in its effort to expand the number of homeless that they are able to reach.
According to Dezeen magazine, the idea by Sheltersuit's creators 'was prompted by the death of a friend's father who had been living on the street.'
They told Dezeen, 'The most challenging aspect of the design process was to put ourselves in the position of a homeless person.'
'We immediately said that whatever the design will be, it would have to be warm, strong, waterproof, and simple to use.' The coat portion zippers into the bottom half to make a sleeping bag. The detachable bottom can later be carried around in the provided backpack.
They have even worked to update the model of the suit. They posted on Facebook, 'The new Sheltersuit contains…[a] separate dufflEbag, more pockets in and outside, [a] sleeping bag [that] can transform into a blanket, [a] 100 lumen LED light with solar panels, [a] round pillow, attachable scarf, and many cool colors.'
They even recently loaded up their car with Sheltersuits. 'The first 50 Sheltersuits for Syrian refugees are on their way! While our main focus lies on helping the homeless, we decided to also hand out Sheltersuits in the Balkans.'
The wonderful creators of Sheltersuits truly are making a difference in the lives of homeless people around the world. Their work is an inspiration, proving that there truly is plenty that we can do to help our fellow man.
To donate or learn more about Sheltersuits, visit their website here.
What do you think of this incredible invention? Let us know in the comments.
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