MAILBOXES FOR THE HOMELESS

Cool Rock is an organization dedicated to social and political change. At Cool Rock, we believe that everyone deserves a mailbox, including the homeless. Only when people have an address are they able to vote, seek employment and become active members of society.

We are turning to the private sector to get involved and help solve this issue as the USPS has not, as of yet, provided free P.O. Boxes to the homeless. We would like to construct specially designed cargo containers lined with mailboxes. These mobile mailbox trailers could be set up in homeless communities. Plus, they could even be moved with the homeless community in a transient situation, like a tent city. The homeless person would be given a box number and a key to retrieve mail. Sponsoring companies could advertise their name across these mobile mailboxes similar to how NASCAR vehicles display sponsor logos. Essentially, we would use advertising dollars to build and move these units. This would show how much the private sector truly cares about the homeless problem in America. By simply offering mailboxes, companies will be helping the homeless to help themselves. In addition, they will receive the benefit of a positive public image. Even if this effort is not tax-deductible, offering free mailboxes to the homeless will serve as a good publicity campaign for companies.

Non-profit organizations and individuals are already doing a tremendous job to fight the effects of homelessness. They are a great support with their efforts. Now it is our opportunity to become involved. Eventually, we would like to solve the problem of homelessness altogether.