Who Am I?

Ainsley Jo Phillips from Anderson, Indiana USA

I've been with IYN even before its beginning, having first met Russell on January 15, 2007 at a discussion site called Duno.  Therefore, I've watched it grow from a field of dreams to where it is today--and it's still getting better and better!!!

When I was in better health (though my health was starting to deteriorate even at that time so that doing this was a challenge), I could be seen on a regular basis at places like Dollar General and Family Dollar buying  various items to be put into flat-rate, shirt-box-size mailing boxes to be sent to Russell for distribution to at least some of the near-4000 young people who are living outside in San Diego.  When I went there, to the post office, and to other places as well, I would pass out information sheets about IYN.

Near the end of May 24, 2009, I was taken to ER and was admitted to a room very early on May 25.  Diagnosis was lymphedema with a three-bug MRSA infection going on.  I was there for a little over a week with follow-up care given (initially) at home and (later) at the clinic.

This is an incurable-but-manageable condition, and I've made a considerable amount of progress in managing it.  However--as I'm still in the stage where I'm only wearing bandages instead of shoes--I'm not going in and out of stores these days, though I hope to be before the year is over.

However, I still manage to stay active in IYN as best as I can.  One way is to make a regular (pre-programmed) monthly donation.  I also still share information with people both online and in real life.  This is done in a number of ways with two of those being my chapter website and my IYN-themed blog.  Their names are listed below as clickable links...

Sugar Fork Creek Chapter of Madison County

My Helping Hand Journal

I hope that my words here will get across that there's something that nearly everybody can do when it comes to helping with our mission, so I'd like to encourage anybody who happens to read this message to check out our various websites and other examples of online presence and think of one or more ways that you might like to participate in our mission.  A countless number of young people in many parts of the third rock from the sun are counting on you!!!

Message From Tj Harris. . .

Tj is part of IYN's Online Management Team.  On top of that,  he's also our Advisor & Cousultant.  He leads a busy life even beyond IYN activities but still manages to do an excellent job of making sure that things are running smoothly along with getting the word out about us.

He has written something at Care2 about how to do searches and make purchases using igive, and I have copied what he wrote into my notebook.

The advertisement for the book you see with it in my notebook has nothing to do with his announcement except for the fact that it's a book that Russell recommends to be read.  If you buy this particular book by clicking on the button, it will also personally help me out.  However, I'd like to see you do at least some of your shopping and searching using the igive/isearch links and banner that goes with this entry.

Click here to read!

I'm Passing On Message I Received From Russell. . .

This is the new IYN advertisement that I have been posting in several San Diego, California classifieds, we have received several responses of people planning to attend.

 

I just renewed all of these ads today.

 

This upcoming meeting should go well and give IYN a solid infrastructure in San Diego.

 

The advertisements will continue and the orientation meetings will continue every month.

 

In the very near future I will be targeting high schools and colleges.

 

Just to keep you updated from my end.

 

Russell

 

There are an estimated 1.5 homeless children walking the streets of American cities alone, of this 1.5 million there is an estimated 4,000 on any given day walking the streets of San Diego, California where IYN headquarters is located.

The average age of these kids has been determined to be between the ages of nine and fifteen. Each of these kids have their own story of why they are homeless among those stories are throwaway children by parents who could no longer afford them, mental, physical and sexual abuse at home or school.

The kids that are able to survive street life have their own way of surviving chief among them is selling their bodies to survive both female and male, theft and everything thrown in between. Many of these kids do not have a clean set of clothes, no personal hygiene items, no way to shower and go without food for days.

They sleep with the elements, rain, snow, cold, hot, four legged predators and needless to say two legged predators as well. How am I sure of this at the age of nine when my parents deserted me I was one of these kids.

One thing that you can count on with these kids they spend a great deal of time being afraid, scared, lonely and crying.

How can we not be there for these kids in every possible way?

If you are a San Diego, California resident.

The Invisible Youth Network does a monthly orientation for all new volunteer applications where your questions will be answered and you will have a wide choice of available volunteer opportunities.

The orientation for May 2010 is scheduled for Friday, May 14, 2010 between the hours of 5:00 - 7:00 PM on the outside dining area of Beach City Market which is located on the street level facing First Avenue at Horton Plaza in downtown San Diego, California this will include three hours of validated parking in the Horton Plaza Garage.

If you would like to attend this orientation please confirm by return e-mail.

High School Students and College Students are encouraged to participate.

For an overview of the Invisible Youth Network please visit our website at:

Invisible Youth Network Website
http://www.orgsites.com/ca/iyn/

Please help us make a difference in these kids lives!

--
Russell T. Hartsaw

Founder & Chairman
Invisible Youth Network

National Website:
http://invisibleyouthnetwork.net/default.aspx  

San Diego, California Headquarters Website:
http://www.orgsites.com/ca/iyn  

Youth Resource Center
http://www.orgsites.com/ca/invisibleyouth/index.html