"May I never get too busy with my own affairs that I fail to respond to the needs of others with kindness and compassion." - Thomas Jefferson

Hey, hope everyone is having a good December. Big thanks to Punan and Cody for helping out last meet up!

Next meet up: Monday the 21st 4pm in front of Cromwell to hand out meals.

Cheers!

"If our hopes of building a better and safer world are to become more than wishful thinking, we will need the engagement of volunteers more than ever." - Kofi Annan

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays! I just wanted to say I really appreciate all the people that contributed their time and money in 2015, you guys rock and we helped a lot of people in need and the environment. Thank you so much!

Final meet up of the year: Monday the 28th 4pm in front of Cromwell to hand out meals.

Take it easy!

Will you be continuing this next year ? Really awesome that you do this and if one of your meet ups coincides with a Vegas trip I will most certainly attend. Also may do something like this locally.

Thanks for all you do.
Merry Christmas and happy new year!

Yes we will continue to build, grow and improve the best we can in 2016.

Respect to all the volunteers out there across the world!

Happy holidays!

Is there a way to feed starving poker players? It would be great if winning players had a time once a week where they fed the losing players

"Be of service. Whether you make yourself available to a friend or co-worker, or you make time every month to do volunteer work, there is nothing that harvests more of a feeling of empowerment than being of service to someone in need." -Gillian Anderson

Charlie Frias Park



The Crew Posing With an Artist



Hey, hope everyone survived the NYE shenanigans and is sticking with their new years resolutions.

First meet up of the year: Monday Jan 18th 4pm in front of Cromwell to hand out meals.


I think that's what comps are for.

Back when I was playing home games we had a rule that the winner buys the beer.

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is 'What are you doing for others.'" - Martin Luther King Jr.

Hi all, hope you're having a wonderful week. Kind of last minute but if anyone is free this afternoon I'll be at Charlie Frias Park doing some trash clean up at 2:30 today, you are welcome to join.

"When you volunteer, you will get back a lot more than you give. Research on volunteerism shows that people who volunteer live longer, have stronger immune systems, have fewer heart attacks, recover from heart attacks faster, have higher self-esteem, and have a deeper sense of meaning and purpose than those who don't volunteer. The research also shows that people who volunteer in their younger years are more likely to end up in more prestigious and higher-paying jobs than their non-volunteering counterparts. Volunteering is a powerful way of networking and often leads to business and career opportunities, not to mention more friendships." - Jack Canfield

Big thanks to a 2+2er who made another very generous donation to support the work we are doing.

I would like to get this meet up group on a more consistent schedule. I would like to set up weekly opportunities to volunteer every Wednesday at 4 pm.

The next meet up will be Wednesday March 2nd at 4pm. We will meet in front of the Crowell to hand out meals to the homeless.

Hope you all have an excellent week!

You will not like what I will say but it's true.

I used to buy food for homeless for years and it felt great and I thought I was doing a great thing. Then I realized something. Thing is if you buy them food then they will have more cash to spend on alcohol/drugs. It's essentially the same as giving them cash. It took me a long time to come to this realization. There are plenty of free programs that assist them in trying to get out of the lifestyle - housing, work placement, drug rehab, etc. And yes, food - there are plenty of food banks and soup kitchens where food distribution is done in an efficient way on a mass scale. The truth is NONE of these guys are starving. NONE. Some can make $100 and more per day panhandling. Almost all are hooked on something and blow it every day on their drug of choice. By giving them food you allow more of their cash to be spent on drugs. You are actually enabling them.

I know you're coming from a good place and I know it feels amazing to do what you do because I've done it. But if you think you're actually helping - that's not the reality.

What about the people who don't panhandle and aren't able to get themselves to the soup kitchens? What about mentally ill people? There is a guy who sleeps in the same spot EVERY SINGLE DAY...you're telling me he isn't starving?

I understand where you are coming from and addiction problems are prevalent but I think it's an unfair and oversimplified characterization of the complex issue of homelessness. There are other contributing factors.

I would have to disagree that providing food and clothes is the equivalent of giving them drugs or alcohol. I believe offering a helping hand and a way out if they want it is my goal. "give a man a fish feed him for a day, teach a man to fish feed him for a lifetime." I don't think handing out necessities is a permanent effective solution but they do appreciate it and it does build rapport and maybe lead to a dialogue that could prove beneficial.

This is all about making you feel good, let's be honest.

Nothing wrong with the good feelings associated with helping out your fellow man.

I agree with the sentiment that is is likely these people's lives are not going to be changed and that they would survive like they always do if "pure and the gang" were not giving them handouts.

But Are we just supposed to stop showing compassion because the odds are stacked against us?

"In charity there is no excess." - Sir Francis Bacon

Big thanks to Punan and DJmissjoy for helping out last Wed.

Next meet up March 9th, Charlie Frias park near Orleans to clean up trash.

I haven't really mentioned in depth my motivation and inspiration for why we are doing this, now is as good a time as any.

When I was growing up I was in boy scouts and we were involved in various forms of community service including canned food drives, fixing hot meals on Thanksgiving, and eagle scout projects.

I also went on a mission trip with my church youth group. We scrapped lead paint from old houses and refurbished them.

A few years ago I listened to the speeches of Jim Rohn who is an expert on self development and he talked about investing time and money in charity.

These have all influenced me so I have set the goal of contributing my time and offering opportunities for other poker players to participate in activities that improve the world or serve the community.

The poker world seems to have a lot of negativity associated with it, just scroll through NVG. I want to be a part of the positive side of the poker world. Poker is mostly a self centered game and I've noticed that spending too much time in casinos can turn people into disgruntled, grumpy people.

By setting aside time to focus on helping those in less fortunate situations it's a good way to mitigate this effect. Volunteering builds character and virtue.

PA - you don't owe explanations to anyone. You are doing good work and your efforts make the world a better place. Keep it up.

I've no expertise in this area, but have participated in one of Carl's volunteer days on the strip. To say none of those receiving water and sandwiches don't actually need these essential food items is a little disingenuous: it would seem clear, just from observation, that many would eat more than would otherwise be the case. The suggestion that the volunteers are effectively enabling addictive behaviour, well, there's some logic to this argument, but, really, it's counter-intuitive, and needs to be referenced with some solid research for me to take it seriously. I agree, however, that handing out sandwiches is not a long-term solution to homelessness on the strip, especially compared to the work, housing and rehab programs you mention. If anything, handing out sandwiches might make some realise that people are willing to help in more constructive ways that just throwing a dollar bill.

In one respect, it probably is about making him feel good, but in a way that is far more constructive than you might realise: the idea that pleasurable feeling can come from not just the joys of winning a pot in poker but from actually making someone's day---and life prospects---better. Sure, acts of compassion generate positive emotional effects for the individual doer, but they also create a culture that can help mitigate a great range of social ills. Would be great if you could experience this for yourself and participate for an hour or so---and, believe me, I mean this in a compassionate, and, non-troll like, way.

"Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy. You vote in elections once a year, but when you volunteer, you vote every day about the kind of community you want to live in." - Anonymous

Hope you are all doing well!

Next meet up to hand out meals March 30th 5pm, in front of Cromwell on the corner of LV blvd and Flamingo.

Thanks, much appreciated.

Thanks again for your participation!

I don't think we should be judging or evaluating how someone has arrived at their present circumstance. Anyone who wants what we are distributing is more than welcome.

Yes, there is no denying that helping others even in a minuscule way feels good. We are social creatures and that's how we are wired.

"I always wondered why somebody didn’t do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody." - Lily Tomlin

Hey, hope you are all doing awesome. I wish you all amazing experience if you happen to be out here visting for WSOP. This group hasn't been active for the last couple months but I think now is a great time to get things rolling again.

Thanks very much to TeamKB for helping out at the last meet up.

I just shot this short promo video feel free to share it with anyone who might like to participate this summer.



JUNE DATES

6/8/16- Meet up at 6PM Charlie Frias Park (on Tropicana just west of Orleans) to clean up trash.

6/15/16- Meet up at 6PM in front of Walgreens on the corner of LV Blvd and Convention Center Dr to hand out meals to homeless.

6/22/16- Meet up at 6PM Charlie Frias Park (on Tropicana just west of Orleans) to clean up trash.

6/29/16- Meet up at 6PM in front of Walgreens on the corner of LV Blvd and Convention Center Dr to hand out meals to homeless.

Thanks, take care!

"Love your world as you love yourself." - Lao Tze

If anyone wants to brave the heat, meet up to fill a few trash bags at Charlie Frias park at 6 today.

"There is no better exercise for your heart than reaching down and helping to lift someone up."- Bernard Meltzer

We have another meet up today at 6 pm on the corner of convention center dr and lv blvd to hand out some free meals to those in need. See you there!

"When we heal the Earth, we heal ourselves."- David Orr

Big thanks to Jeff for helping at the last meet up and for the donation to the cause.

We are going to do some trash clean up at Charlie Frias park today, gunna push the time back to 8pm dusk. We must brave the heat but don't have to battle the sun.

"Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair, but manifestations of strength and resolution."- Kahil Gibran

We have another meet up today to hand out some meals, let's click the start time back to 8pm dusk to avoid the direct sun. Rally point in front of the walgreens at the corner of LV blvd and convention center dr. Have a great day!

Anybody around? I got here a tick after 8 and haven't seen anyone. Walgreens at Strip and Convention, correct?

"The human contribution is the essential ingredient. It is only in the giving of oneself to others that we truly live."- Ethel Percy Andrus

Hi all, hope everyone is well. Just want to post some more dates for volunteer meet ups. All the start times are pushed back to just after sunset. 4 more opportunities to make a positive mark on the world. Hope to see you there, questions or concerns please post ITT or PM me.

Big thanks to TuscaloosaJohnny for helping out at the last meet up and for the generous donation!

AUGUST DATES

8/10/16- Meet up at 8PM Charlie Frias Park (on Tropicana just west of Orleans) to clean up trash.

8/17/16- Meet up at 8PM in front of Walgreens on the corner of LV Blvd and Convention Center Dr to hand out meals to homeless.

8/24/16- Meet up at 8PM Charlie Frias Park (on Tropicana just west of Orleans) to clean up trash.

8/31/16- Meet up at 8PM in front of Walgreens on the corner of LV Blvd and Convention Center Dr to hand out meals to homeless.

"A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal."- Steve Maraboli

Hi guys, hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. Here are 4 more opportunities to improve the community and make a positive mark on the world. Hope to see you there, questions or concerns please post ITT or PM me.

Big thanks to everyone who's helped out so far this year!

DECEMBER DATES

12/7/16- Meet up at 5PM Charlie Frias Park (on Tropicana just west of Orleans) to clean up trash.

12/14/16- Meet up at 5PM in front of The Cromwell on the corner of LV Blvd and Flamingo rd to hand out meals to homeless.

12/21/16- Meet up at 5PM Charlie Frias Park (on Tropicana just west of Orleans) to clean up trash.

12/28/16- Meet up at 5PM in front of The Cromwell on the corner of LV Blvd and Flamingo rd to hand out meals to homeless.