When Hanley Fort was six, she saw a person who was homeless standing on
The street in her town. She wanted to help him, so she and her mom gave the man a sandwich and a bottle of water.
Hailey kept thinking about the man and what it was like to be hungry. She knew that fresh fruits and vegetables often aren't available (可获得的) at food banks, where homeless people may get canned or boxed food. Hailey had an idea. "There was a garden in our backyard, and we weren't using it, "she said. “I asked my mom if I could use that garden to grow food for the homeless.”
Now, several years later, Hailey's garden has provided many people with strawberries, blueberries, peas, tomatoes, and other fresh food. When food is ready to harvest (收获), Hailey picks, washes, and bags it. Then she and her mom give the bags to people on the street or to a local food bank. Hailey has given away more than 550 pounds of fruits and vegetables so far!
While handing out food, Hailey and her mom often see people more than once. They lean their names and talk with people about what it's like to be homeless. Last week, when Hailey found out that people without homes didn't always have safe or comfortable places to sleep, she thought of a new project-building a shelter.
With the help of her mom, Hailey built a shelter big enough for a person to sleep in. It has walls, windows, a roof, a locking door, a solar light, and curtains made by her sister, Josie. Hailey's family is now working with local groups to find a good place to park the shelter for someone in need.
Hailey has learned a lot since she gave away her first sandwich. She has also leaned to see people who are homeless as individuals (个体). To help others, she says, "Start small. You can always grow over the years.
