Author: HPLACharities.org

The Divine Call for Peace: Insights for 2025

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From the Desk of Robert Flores, Chairman and Founder of HPLA Charities aka Habitaciones Para Latinos Association. In an unpublished story that I have begun to write, my title will be shocking and certainly controversial. “The Words of the Real & Only GOD for 2025 and Beyond” Wow, can we all have a field day with this one. Please take it seriously and think about it. As the inhabitants of this world, the majority has no say in what is to be done for us going forward. Highlight the word majority. The greatest gift we should give ourselves as humans is PEACE. Love thy neighbor as thyself and do not covet. This has been demanded by most modern-day representatives of our creator as they received the command directly from GOD. Just ask them, they will tell you that’s the truth. If we can look through the eyes of the one and only true GOD and believe that peace is paramount for our population to exist, then we have to settle some serious issues amongst GOD’s people. It has to start with those who are called to be GOD’s representatives. Those whom we pay to receive GOD’s Truth and pass it down. I dare not go back any further than the times documented in the Christian Holy Bible, The Catholic Bible, The Muslim Bible (Qur’an), The Hindu Vedas, etc. The unrest or lack of peace has come from places and people on the earth whose “religions” feel certain lands belong to them. This may be the only reason there is no peace. These people have the idea that GOD has guaranteed them a specific place on earth and anyone who disagrees is wrong. NOT!

If the truth beknown unrest or peace will never exist because GOD gave us all the “will” to do whatever we want with a few exceptions. The purpose of my message is not to cover all the reasons why there is no peace or unrest although a few should be listed: The obvious is economic changes, political changes and social changes. Religion, governance and politics along with human rights, and justice are fundamental to society and have historically caused many conflicts. Instead, the purpose of my message is to remind each one of you the destruction that these conflicts bring to us, the inhabitants of this world. In 2025 the loss of life and more so, the destruction of our habitats maybe the worst they have ever been. I have not researched the data going back to the wars of the 1800’s 1900’s or those thus far in the 2000’s but suffice it to say we are living in some very scary times where the destruction of cities, the loss of innocent lives and the ridiculous reasons that is perpetuating the destruction of resources is absolutely asinine. Can you side with needing to destroy resources and kill people due to who drew first blood? Absolutely. Can you abhor or find repugnant one country attacking another for the want of that country’s resources? Yes. The problem is that in desperation someone is going to come and try to get something from us. It maybe to retaliate or just to acquire needed resources. It maybe because the US has become a “Sodam and Gomorrah” and GOD wants to rain fire and sulfur on our cities. Whatever happens many of us will become a detriment a liability. We will have no say and while some will have underground bunkers and safe places to survive the bulk of the population will not. We must demand that all issues and retaliation due to disagreements STOP before they impact the US.

We have an opportunity to start 2025 with the knowledge that the one GOD, creator of the universe, says it’s time to STOP. Time out, start over, half time. GOD’s Army must come together and ensure that everyone has all their basic needs met. Yes, all over the world. The cost of exploring other planets may have great value but not at the cost of human life and human dignity here on earth. The money spent on explosive devises thus far in all the conflicts going on in the world would put every person on earth on a balanced budget. Every basic physiological need met. (Food, shelter, safety and a significant other).

So, this “PIE IN THE SKY” idea has to be put into action. It has to start with peace and equity for all. It has to continue by being contented with what you have. Drugs, alcohol, piercings and tattoos are a luxury not a basic need for survival. Living on the street begging for your next meal while covered head to toe with ink, piercing and silver is not meeting your own basic needs. (Food, shelter, safety, and a significant other). Some folks just need a dog or cat for their significant other. That is good for me. Where do we as a society begin, where do we go first? For me it is trying to ensure that those folks who are working or even begging to acquire their basic physiological needs get the leg up to get those things they need now. Any homeowner that is trying to have one dollar left over every month when all the bills for basic needs are met and needs an extra dollar for baby formula or a leaky faucet fixed can get it. No not for cigarettes or beer, but even then they should be helped. There are hundreds of charities in play that are established to help in any area of your life. In Kansas there are 811, 311, 211 numbers that are there to help. Reserve 911 for life threating scenarios.

HPLA Charities is one charity I manage that can help with home repairs and a place to call for help. We will try to get you to the right place to obtain your basic physiological needs. Call 913-269-4450 and have a HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Go to http://www.hplacharities.org/donate if you are with me and willing to support our mission. Don’t hesitate to call us for further information or to volunteer to help with a project. 913-269-4450

Robert Flores Chairman

2024 Elections are over, but the fears remain

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There is no need to banter about the results of the 2024 Presidential election. There is plenty of room for celebration, condemnation, mourning, or conspiracy theory. If the bulk of cynical folks are correct, however, the leaders of the left and right wings of politics are working together to keep us divided and intent on us sending them all the cash value of our assets.

It is time to stop sending contributions to politicians in Washington and start sending them to your local grassroots organizations that are helping us all without paid staff, without overhead, and without internal costs. Please donate to organizations that are using funds to go directly to those who are hurting. Are there non-profits that don’t take anything off the top for overhead? YES, there are! You are reading the plea from a very successful organization. A very small one that you can help make bigger and help do more, but one with no donation money used to pay for anything but the clients projects. www.hplacharities.org/donate

You will notice and you should be aware that most contributions going to organizations to stop disease are going for research. That means it goes to pay researchers. Scientist are working hard to find solutions to prevent cancer for example. But I say to those organizations, give half of all you receive to help the individuals with the diseases. Make sure they are living as comfortable as possible while you find a cure. It may slow the process to find a cure, but those poor souls with the decease are currently going through the poor house before they die. Why not let them die in dignity while the scientific community works for a cure as fast as they can?

No need to name names, but recently I have seen more social media posts from folks who are the victims of the very problem of which I speak. These folks are begging or are selling all their assets to sustain themselves and literally still starving in their last days. In a recent tragedy, a healthcare executive was murdered to bring awareness to the injustice we in America are facing from the insurance industry. For being the richest country in the world, I hate to imagine what a third world country’s residents are facing. (I am so proud to be an American). Public healthcare or not, there is tremendous corruption in medicine as there is in politics. It starts with “Big Pharma” pushing scientists around for their benefit first, then pushing doctors to overprescribe their products. There is plenty of work to be done in this area, but killing the leaders of these corporations is not a way to protest. But maybe ostracizing their products is.

Holistic Medicine is a real practice and may reduce big pharma’s grip on society. That maybe a channel which may prove more beneficial. In closing, please know that for many the ability to survive in dignity is to have a safe place to stay. We can do it, and you can help. Happy Holidays

Are Millions out of touch with Reality?

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I posed this question to Google: What is the IQ (Human Intelligent Quotient) levels in the USA by state. Interestingly the state with the highest IQ was Massachusetts, ranking first with an average IQ of 104.3. The second and third highest were New Hampshire and North Dakota with state average IQ scores of 104.2 and 103.8. Mississippi was ranked last with an average IQ of 94.2. In the top 10 are Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Vermont, Minnesota, Montana, Maine, Iowa, Connecticut and Wisconsin. Let’s move on to the lowest IQ states. In order Tennessee, Arkansas, Arizona, Nevada, Alabama, New Mexico, Hawaii, California, Louisiana and Mississippi. Kansas has a respectable IQ of 100.5 matched by Idaho and Indiana at 100.6 and South Dakota at 100.7. It would be very interesting to know how IQ and the understanding of current events correlate. More interesting if the higher IQ people in the public have any influence on current events or can they change them. Coming full circle what is reality and how do you package that in a malleable form.

Reality is defined as the world or state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them (i.e. “he refuses to face reality”) Secondly, it is defined as the state or quality of having existence or substance. The real nature of things rather than imagined, invented, or theoretical ideas. Some of the synonyms are fact, truth, certainty, realism.

One reality is that evil will always exist. Each of us can decide what is the evilest thing anyone can do. One thing that comes to mind is the deliberate killing of innocent people. To do that in the name of God is maybe worse. The Kamikaze pilots of Japan or the Martyrs of Allah are innocent individuals who believe that their death is honorable and that there will be life after death. That is a great notion and one that may be necessary for a culture to exist. However, self-preservation is instinctively bred into us so to give up our life willingly requires a very special person or a very ignorant one. Brain washing, I believe, is real. To think that an individual or group of individuals that would ask someone to die for any reason is pure evil. What is the motive for anyone to do that? The threat of the extinction of the group might be a good motive. I am sure you can come up with more motives yourself. I would ask, is it the smartest of the population that would Martyr themselves or the dumbest for the cause. I am going with the less educated folks or those with a low IQ would be more easily persuaded to kill themselves for a cause then those with a higher education or IQ. Where are the days when the king led his Army into battle? What was his IQ?

To get to a point with all this is to suggest that folks are becoming expendable. It is usually the poorly educated folks that are most easily persuaded to fight for a cause that are sent to battle first. It is the folks with the higher IQ that sit back and watch. Secondly it is those same higher IQ folks that profit from any gain in the war. There are plenty of examples where a majority of less intelligent folks rose up for survival and won. Today we are a democracy because a few brave men insisted on being free rather than slaves to a monarch. By slaves the 13 colonies were being taxed without any representation or voice to object. It took ten years and 6,800 Patriots that died to finally end the war for independence. Some 17,000 died from disease while being housed in Prison Ships in the New York Harbor. In hindsight was that much loss of life worth it. What if the war had been lost and we were today under British rule? What if there had never been a war and we would be living exactly the way British citizens are living now. Based on 246 years as a democracy and the lifestyle we enjoy today I like where I am. I am sad so many died to free us from British Rule and allow us to be where we are today. But where are we today? Inciting an insurrection due to high taxes, yes and many other good reasons. Again, being brainwashed by smart people? Those being mostly filthy rich people not wanting to pay taxes. But who is it that is going to die for a change to the status quo? I doubt any of the men in the war of 1776 expected to die. Today we know that any conflict will take lives. Who will be the first to raise your hand and say I am willing to die or worse yet that I am willing to send my own boys and girls to die. Remember who is going to gain the most by sending you or your children to war. It is time for American to say NO! Not my kids.

As I had mentioned previously, the reality is that evil does exist. The reality is that America has folks that want to kill. They don’t need a cause but if they have one that is great. Real freedom is living in a void with all the ingredients to sustain yourself and no one to disagree with you. Since that will never happen, we will continue to see evil, and we will always have conflict. As a Christian nation we are led by the recorded actions and examples of one man who did no wrong. We are also exposed to the historical evils in the recording of the Old Testament. The philosophy we should all strive to live by is summarized in the ten commandments. Jesus taught that they are still relevant. But so many who want to live in peace are not allowed to do so and are being constantly bombarded with threats. The more they try to follow the footsteps and teachings for good the more they are threatened. The Nation of Israel has tried to live a life of peace and follow the teaching of their God and those who they believe are their Gods appointed leaders. The Patriarchs of Judaism Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob are considered the forefathers of the Jewish people and believed to have established a covenant with GOD. Prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos and Hosea delivered messages from GOD, often addressing social injustices and urging the people to remain faithful. Still, they have fought and tried to preserve land that was promised to them by God. Those that disagree are willing to shed blood to prove their case, but the ones that are willing to shed blood are not on the front line, but if successful will be the one to profit the most. Any God that teaches you have to kill your fellow man to please me is not a GOD. He more closely resembles our definition of Satan. The Prince of Evil.

The preservation of life should be the highest priority for the world. Currently the issue of abortion is one of the examples. While the question of when does life begin is in conflict, more importantly is the question who has the right to take a life? Those that are most concerned with calling an abortion deliberate murder or killing a life are very comfortable with wiping out a country and all its inhabitants. That means pregnant women, children, boys, men and girls. While we live in a hypocritical world, due to evil, there are those who are honest, faithful, hardworking and peaceful loving individuals. The world has gone from fighting for survival with animals to fighting for survival with each other. Today the majority of the world is not fighting for survival of the species but instead for dominance. There are unresolved regional tensions such as a breakdown in the rule of law, an absent or co-opted state institution, illicit economic gain and the scarcity of resources all exacerbated by climate change. These have all become dominant drivers of the conflict.

One Reality

HPLA Charities is not even a spec on the global scene and yet we are making progress into saving lives, at minimum perpetuating lives and trying to do our part to make our community a better place with the thought of bringing peace with one and other. Our mission if you have not read our “about page” has been to provide home repair to low income homeowners. That mission has been overshadowed by folks needing help in other areas rather than just leaky faucets. We have been petitioned to provide money for specialized meals for special dietary homeowners, school supplies, help with the high cost of utilities. mortgage payments, insurance and with other temporary needs such as utility deposits and late fees. A few of our short term help recipients have come back to support us as volunteers or paid with cash back. These folks are authentic with there needs and grateful for the leg up.

Our monthly donations have been a great help and more importantly given from the heart. We receive a $10 gift every month and have for years from a person who probably is in need herself. “It is those that can afford to give the least that give the most proportionately”. Since the need to donate to politicians is temporarily over the need to contribute to charities is not. Will you send us 10% of what you donated to a political campaign? www.hplacharities.org/donate

We have home-repair projects in play and we have already contributed some to clients for healthcare. The goal is to keep more folks in their homes. Home healthcare is at an all time high and that keeps folks from living in a nursing home where life expectancy is very predictable. I’d like to shout out to one of our oldest clients at 90 years old that we have been helping for over 5 years. She is still making it on her own in her own house.

God Bless you all for caring and doing what you can to help in our mission. HPLA has no paid staff or overhead that uses your donations. The donations all go to the folks we help and those that will come. There will always be those. HPLA Charities

WHO TO BELEIVE 2024

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Some of you may recall the show “Truth or Consequences” a show created by a, then popular, creator named Ralph Edwards. The phrase refers to the idea that actions have consequences. It’s a powerful reminder of the importance of honesty, integrity and accountability. To suggest today that everyone is trustworthy, dependable and loyal is to be out of touch with reality. I would dare say that no one can be classified that way. There may be some exceptions, but very few I would assume. The reality is that in order to convince folks of anything would suggest that some deviance from the truth has to be included. Think of the truth in advertising. (Under the law, claims in adverting cannot be deceptive or unfair and must be evidence based). Making a deceptive, unfounded, or misleading claim is not just unethical it is a crime. Some recent companies that have come under scrutiny are Burger King, Safeway, Albertsons, and Vons. In 2014 L’Oreal was accused of making false and unsubstantiated claims about two of its skincare products. Red Bull, Frito-Lay, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola have all be accused of, at the least, misleading the public in their advertising. While many of these companies have been found guilty and fined in many cases the downside is that a large percentage of those people deceived have no idea that they were and continue to buy the “fake news” about the products advertised long after the truth was revealed.

The world is in crises and more importantly the United States is seriously divided. The division is rooted in the belief that those, of our neighbors, who we are against are uneducated and misinformed. As a result, there is no way we can associate with them. It gets dangerous, however, when I am told those who I contest are going to bring loss and suffering to me if I let them survive. I should try to defame them and turn others against them to save myself and my likeminded circle of friends and family.

The motive is to gain the majority of votes. Worst case we fight. If we look at just one issue which is interpreted 10 different ways you may get ten circles of disagreement. Multiply that by 100 issues and you begin to see the danger. In my mind if we compromise there is going to be lots of unhappy people. And who is to judge what one of us is willing to give up and another is not? It is called democracy. The majority rules. (I won’t get into a 50/50 split because that generally only happens in very small groups where there is no final authority. (i.e. husband and wife:)). But seriously, when the issue becomes real, and the loss and suffering get real then the compromise may not be acceptable and thus cults and splitter groups form that are willing to take up arms to maintain their stance. Well, we are here in 2024. We are here because there is no final authority for the truth. The first lair has no chance because it opens up the flood gates for untruths. Those who have been seated to be the final vote makers are themselves being lied to or more correctly bribed to vote one way. Honesty, integrity and accountability have been lost. Those who are uneducated and misinformed are easily swayed and naive enough to take up arms. Civil War is an ugly term and yet being tossed around frequently. In spite of the history that we have all been taught, the liars the cheaters the cowards would rather see us fight against each other just so they can sit back and gamble on who is going to win, never once putting themselves in danger. The end is not near, and we can sit around and wait for a savior. Until he/she does come the battle for survival is on us. We must rebel against the few powerful and wealthy enough to sit back and watch us fight each other while they gamble on who wins. Through our vote we must dethrone anyone who does not convince us they are for equality and survival of the majority. We are the 90% not the 10%. Amongst the 90% we must compromise in lieu of the unhappy results for most of us.

It has been my belief and my calling to try to do all I can do to help folks who are hurting through no fault of their own. It does not matter if those hurting believe what I believe or think the way I think. I want to help them live with their basic needs assured. Food, water, clothing, shelter, security and friendship. I need to find those who think like I do on this issue. To hell with all else. let’s work together to make this happen. “Give me your tired, your poor. Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these the homeless, tempest-tossed to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door! The Statue of Liberty Ellis Island Foundation, Inc.” Ditto from HPLA Charities Association. http://www.hplacharities.org/donate -Robert Flores Chairman

💖 Love thy neighbor.

paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/2036616

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New Fund-Raising Place

If you have not noticed a new link or new channel to contribute to our mission is on the donation tab of our home page. paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/2036616 We have earned a spot with PayPal to get funds via the PayPal Gift Giving Fund. For those of you who give every month and use our regular PayPal channel there is no need to change. But be sure the gift is directed to HPLA Charities. It is important to keep each of you updated on what we are doing with the donations we get. Our mission has been to give home repair to low-income homeowners to keep folks in their homes. We have been extremely successful in helping many elderly or physically challenged individuals stay in their homes and not go to nursing homes. Our government has made great strides in helping folks stay in their homes too by providing in home care by professionals or payments to relatives willing to take on the task of caring for a loved one in their own house. If you ever talk to someone who is terminally ill the one thing we always hear is, “I want to go home”. If you have not had anyone close to you in a health care facility and experienced that process you need to go see anyone who has no family and visit them. Maybe you can volunteer to read to a group or use your crafts skills to show how these folks can stay active and hopeful doing what you do. Knitting, singing, assembling puzzles, etc. I would dare say not one of them would not rather be home then there. So, keeping folks in their home is a benefit for everybody. Most importantly it is an advantage to the homeowner. It provides a safe place and relieves stress.

In our post we try to stay positive and encourage folks to share the wealth directly to those who are hurting or via trustworthy organizations who don’t absorb most of the donations to pay for overhead. In our eighth year HPLA has never had a paid staff. We do all we do with volunteer help and the monies we get goes directly to help our clients. Worst case we have bought drinks and snacks for our volunteers while they are working for us. This statement is made proudly because while many great organizations keep pets alive that have been abandoned or abused, they spend a tremendous amount of donations paying for air-conditioned building with first class accommodations for the managers and healthy payrolls. In all our years we have worked out of donated vehicles and use gifted tools. Donations are used to buy materials and supplies for the projects that we take on. Recently we bought over $200.00 for wood siding and for replacing wood rot for a couple who were cited by the county. The man is invalid and while the women is a nurse it takes all their income to pay for his care. With all the mandates given to keep a home operational sometimes it is the structure and the nuts and bolts of the home that goes without maintenance.

With the excessive heat we have had, cost of utilities has increased as well as the cost of all goods and services. To that point we have paid some utilities, bought groceries, replaced a hot water heater and did yard work. Recently we have tried to expand our service area to include another county. We now serve Wyandotte County & Sedgwick County in Kansas. Although we still try to help on the Missouri side of the Kansas City Metro the greatest good is done in Kansas. As an aside we have pointed out over the course of many success stories that it is the folks that have the least that proportionately give the most. If every multi-millionaire would sacrifice the cost of one adult beverage per week and send it to us, we stop every leak in everyone’s homes in both counties for years. That being said the cost of water is not only going through the roof, but it is getting scarce in Kansas as well as other parts of the country. In fact, on average a faucet dripping 10 drops a minute will waste a gallon of water a day. 120 drips will waste up to 11 gallons a day. Take that across 100 homes and it is easy to see how our services can help not only help our clients, but our communities’ resources. You make the difference and little issues like these is what we as charities, working in the trenches, bring to the table. Savings of money and resources. Each of you that are reading this post can honestly say you are struggling yourself, but the old adage of “I desperately needed shoes until I met a man with no feet”.

American’s salary is the second highest in the world only slightly less than Luxembourg where the average salary is approximately $78,000.00 per year. At the other end of the ranking is Mexico with annual average salaries of $16,685.00. You now know why any struggling family from Mexico would risk coming to America to work. Data suggests that even the illegals give a positive income to outgo while they are here. So, do we service “Dreamers” who are here illegally and have been for years? We don’t ask. Income status and homeownership is all we need to approve them. If the family falls below the poverty level established by The US department of Health & Human Services and own their home, they qualify for all the services we can offer. In our part of the world, we are the closest country to give Mexicans a better future. We are glad the US can give them sanctuary as the law allows. We are glad to help the families who sponsor these folks. Tax deductions for donations to charities may one day go away, but for now your donation will reduce your tax burden and save resources. Our wish is for all who live in this world to have their basic needs met and anyone living on the street is there because they want to be. At some point I hope HPLA will do more and go further out into the world, but for now we will do all we can for Kansas.

I VOTED

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The most important election in recent history is here and now in 2024

Voting –What’s in it for me?

As the election of new representatives for every part of the country draws closer to its final day the question in my mind is why do I care? Better yet, why should I care? An old joke was I only listen to my favorite radio station WIFM. The acronym stands for what’s in it for me. Well, what is in it for me? What is the most often used response for this question?

It your duty!

With the 2024 election just weeks away it is important to know the answer. The 2020 election had 155 million votes forever changing the course of our nation. The 2024 election, however, may have the greatest impact of any election in our 248 year history. It will once again decide Americans way of life.  It may be the future of health care, immigration reform, economic policy, women’s’ health, social programs, foreign aid or global warming. Social programs are a big factor to be considered, no doubt.

For the sake of argument there will be two sides to these topics. One considered the conservative view and the other the liberal view. The idea that there is a third view is not seen very well if indeed there is another view, but the moderates and independents are to be respected among either side.

In the House of Representatives, there are 220 Republicans (plus 2 Delegates and the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico), 212 Democrats (plus 3 Delegates), and 3 vacant seats. The Senate has 49 Republicans, 47 Democrats, and 4 Independents, who all caucus with the Democrats. Additionally,

• The average age of Members of the House at the beginning of the 118th Congress was 57.9 years; of Senators, 64.0 years.

• The overwhelming majority, 96%, of Members of Congress have a college education.

• The dominant professions of Members are public service/politics, business, and law.

• Most Members identify as Christians, and the collective majority of these affiliate with a Protestant denomination. Roman Catholics account for the largest single religious denomination, and numerous other affiliations are represented, including Jewish, Latter-day Saints, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, Greek and Russian Orthodox, Pentecostal Christian, Unitarian Universalist, and Adventist.

• The average length of service for Representatives at the beginning of the 118th Congress was 8.5 years (4.3 House terms); for Senators, 11.2 years (1.9 Senate terms).

• One hundred fifty-four women serve in the 118th Congress: 129 in the House, including 3 Delegates and the Resident Commissioner, and 25 in the Senate.

• There are 59 African American Members of the House and 4 in the Senate. This House number includes 2 Delegates.

• There are 62 Hispanic or Latino Members serving: 56 in the House, including 2 Delegates and the Resident Commissioner, and 6 in the Senate.

• There are 22 Members (17 Representatives, 3 Delegates, and 2 Senators) who are Asian Americans or Pacific Islander Americans.

• Five Native Americans (American Indians or Alaska Natives) serve in the 118th Congress (4 in the House, 1 in the Senate)

Then there are the local offices which hit real close to home and which great care should be taken to choose. Anyone who is registered and allowed to vote should know whom to vote for and where to cast your vote. It is your duty, but let’s be honest; it’s about what is in it for you. Wichita, Kansas became one of the first municipalities in the United States to adopt a commission-manager form of government. Currently there are six commissioners that serve four year terms and one Mayor (at-large).

 It is understood that taxes, fees, fines etc. finance the City of Wichita and all the departments necessary to serve the population. It is the leadership that approves the expenses and oversees the revenue. Wichita, Kansas is in Sedgwick County which has its own revenue stream and expenses. So to the question, what’s in it for me, the biggest concern is how much to support  all these city and county services going to cost  me/you?  There is where voting becomes vital to us. I want to elect leaders who represent my interest, leaders that will make laws for my better welfare. So to that point there is a huge divide.Where can we agree to spend the money that will help me and you? The bare minimum of services is not enough, but what else do we need that the largest percentage of the population will agree. I look at a theory drafted by a fellow named Abraham Maslow, who breaks down the general populations needs anywhere in the world.  In a 1943 paper he wrote titled “A Theory of Human Motivation” and published in the “Journal of Psychological Review” {50(4),370-96} Abraham Maslow extended an idea to include his observation of humans’ innate curiosity.  It was later put into a pyramid or triangle with the base entitled physiological needs and seven other layers to suggest a person’s goals or desires. Best described as a hierarchy of needs and broken into a dichotomy of, individualized and the prioritization, of needs. The very basic of all needs in Maslow’s theory was named physiological and followed by safety at level two. The thought being that one could not reach the next level without having every need fulfilled in the first. So, to reach level three an individual would have to have physiological security and feel totally safe. The third level being “belonging and love”. For now I will stay with the thought of level one to three.

What is being physiologically secure? For a body to survive one needs air, food, water, shelter, warmth, sex, sleep, etc. Physiological needs. Second and just as important is Safety. One might start with protection from the elements, security, order, law, stability and the freedom from fear. Other areas might include employment, healthcare. The third level of the triangle is Love and belonging. Included are the need for friendship, intimacy, family and a sense of connection.

Without any help from anyone the story of the caveman might come to mind, but I dare say no one would want to go back to living the way, as it is theorized, the way those folks lived. Bringing us further into our reality I would not like to live like those who left the eastern part of the country to go west. The rewards were great for some, but disastrous for most. (I recently visited the Sierra Nevada Mountains and read the story of the Donner Party. To survive they resorted to cannibalism, but ultimately all died. They could not maintain the basic level of physiological needs). The elements were too hard to overcome.

Let’s look at life of your grandparents or great grandparents who most likely relied on an Agrarian lifestyle of living. That is a life of living off the land. Laws helped them acquire a piece of property and have full control of buying and selling anything they wanted. They sustained their physiological needs by hard work and a little help from some Politician who wrote a law that assured their self-sufficiency with laws to keep their cattle from being stolen or from claim jumpers steeling their land. These Politicians were their friends, neighbors, family etc. They had a single purpose in mind and that was freedom and the ability to survive any legal way.  As folks did things that were questionable these elected officials created laws against what was not right for the community. In time establishing a law enforcement department to be sure the laws were followed and hardworking, honest people safe. This is not a history lesson, but instead a reminder that our elected officials are no longer friends or family of the majority and may not have our best interest at heart, but instead motivated by their own goals to reach the highest level of Maslow’s hierarchy using you as their stepping stone.  The morals and mores have changed dramatically and the standards are all over the board. In order to bring this all to some sort of order a base line has to be reestablished to meet today’s way of thinking.

  1. Every basic physiological need must be covered (Food, water, clean, shelter, warmth, sex, sleep, etc. Currently we are on the verge of a drought and water rationing has started. Our elected officials decided that for the better welfare of the community and to insure everyone’s physiological needs are met, rationing was necessary. And penalties put in place to punish those who do not follow the law. This is a good group of politicians.
  2. For safety a budget, is in place that assures the police and sheriff’s departments have adequate budgets to protect the public. There are approximately 6,000 law enforcement officers in Sedgwick County.  There is an argument that this number is not enough to maintain order. This is a good group of politicians trying to pass laws to help with our safety.

The list of physiological and safety needs required to keep us alive is long and very expensive to maintain. The cost of living continues to rise and cost of doing business is where it starts. This is where the road gets a little slippery and the hard decisions come into play. Where can we cut back to compensate for the increasing cost of services? What are we willing to lose or risk for keeping more of our hard-earned money for ourselves and it not go to supply the needs of the county? It is social programs, right? There in begins the rub and the disagreements. Which politician is going to follow your lead to create a budget that balances everyone’s basic needs fairly? How do you voice your ideas and your suggestions to those in power? You vote for the folks that are running for office that feel the same way you feel and are there to take your lead to the rest of your neighbors. You vote so that what you believe is fair and just and necessary is considered. Then it’s the majority rules, right? Who has the greatest opportunity to get to the voting booth, probably those that don’t care about you or your priorities. People that have much more than they need and are willing to sacrifice services that impact the lower classes instead of what affects them.  The only voice the lower classes may have, is the right to vote. Get to know who your representatives are and what they stand for and then VOTE! The cost of your survival may lay in your vote.

(We are fighting to help those in need and those who are hurting through no fault of their own).

Serving Kansas City and Wichita, Kansas We are:

www,hplacharities.org/donate

What is the best for America in 2024-2028

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Be a light to the world

Jesus’ words are practical and concise, and their truth rings out clearly, even centuries later. He was truly a master wordsmith. In his references to the ten commandments his message was that the spirit of the law is broader than the letter of the law and that includes our thought towards others. When asked which was the greatest commandment he said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and all your mind.” “This is the first and greatest commandment.” “The second is like it, Love your neighbor as thy self.”

That is a tall order, but for the sake of conversation and looking at the political climate of today; if I have 12 neighbors it is very likely that close to half will not think like I do. Coming from where I come from the count will be even worse. Coming together and doing things we can agree on may be our saving grace today. Loving our neighbors, next door and on our streets is crucial.

HPLA is a charity dedicated to helping low-income homeowners with minor home repairs. Let that sink in a minute and ask the obvious question, why low-income homeowners? Answer: because you have to start somewhere, and you have to do something. Over the course of eight plus years in business one of the biggest tragedies I have found is folks having repair problems without any means or resources to fix them. There are hundreds of ideas to remedy that problem. What is yours? I had one idea and acted on it. You can act on yours, if you want. If you want to be a light in the world. Start with contributing to an idea for good. I founded HPLA. In doing Handyman work I found that fixing one toilet would save the cost of filling a hotel swimming pool with fresh water in a week. (Standard motel/hotel pool is 30,000 gallons approximately but varies). So, we started fixing leaky toilets for free because folks could not afford a plumber. That led to faucets, indoor and out, which led to bathroom remodels due to the damage of leaks etc. After replacing floors and walls and entire water systems (we just recently replaced a hot water heater) it was important we do more. Taking care of those expenses does not catch up the waste and the cost of the waste of water month after month. Soooo, HPLA started helping with water bills. (FYI-the water companies have little sympathy for you wasting water due to your systems failure.) Helping our neighbors has caused us to rewrite our mission statement and increase what we are able to do to help. We have done this with a half dozen faithful donors who send money every month and with those who have given large & small one-time donations. Our volunteers are unbelievable people. Out of every dollar donated HPLA takes nothing. All donations go to help our clients and as necessary to licensed professionals who work at a discount for us, but not for free. Oh, yes, we have had a special contractor or two help us at no charge. Roofers, plumbers, HVAC and electricians. But all our work is now to help our neighbors and not for profit. We have paid out over two thousand dollars for utility bills alone.

HPLA Charities has recently received an award from PayPal’s newly established “Giving Fund” with was used immediately to repair wood rot for an invalid man whose wife was working almost day and night to care for him. (Homes must be kept in good repair, or the county will ticket you as a homeowner and give so many days to clear the citation.) Their shed was in shambles as was wood rot and paint on the home. HPLA was able to pick up the material cost for this job & a man ‘Jorge’ with his son did the repairs over the course of a couple of weeks. In a second project HPLA bought the hot water heater and it was replaced by Pegasus Construction at no cost. WOW! That link to the PayPal “Giving Fund” site can be found on our donation page on our web site. https://habitacionesparalatinos.org/donate/

HPLA Charities aka Habitaciones Para Latinos Assocation is working on two fronts and including all cultures. Now in Wichita, Ks and in Kansas City, Kansas where it originated. We will do all we can to be a light to the community as our county, state and country try’s to be a light to the world. We must keep our non-profit organizations, like HPLA, strong as they are working hard to bring our country together by insuring no one loses their home or their dignity. Hopefully it will fix our division with each other. Please give. God Bless

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The following is an application to Venmo for a grant which prompted the question, why not share publicly and see if other interested charitable funds might appreciate the story and help also.

Venmo question:

We’d love to hear about your business, your background, and how you made it to where you are today.

HPLA Charities was born as Habitaciones Para Latinos Association with the mission to help low-income homeowners with home repairs. After owning a successful handyman business for 10 years Chairman Robert Flores realized most folks that called on him where not able to pay for the emergency repairs, he was called on to fix. After doing as much at no cost for the homeowner he decided that maybe others would join in and volunteer to provide the labor for free and he would provide all the materials and the tools.

Intime folks decided that they could not do the labor, but could donate to defer cost of materials and supplies. So, Robert provided all the labor he could himself. Others, that were able, helped with labor too. In conversations with homeowners that needed major repair they were referred to larger non-profits or public organizations dedicated to helping the elderly and the poor.  There was never immediate help and with every case lots of paperwork. One organization required a $100.00 deposit to even process the application for help. Since 2016 after the loss of his daughter Robert decided to dedicate all the time, he could, to help folks at no cost or without question in the name of daughter Donni. It was easy to see who was in real need and those that were trying to steal some free help. 90% of any profits made from the Handyman business went to the charity. In 2023 Robert had helped hundreds, but his age caused the need for a series of heart procedures that ended with a Trans Aortic Valve Replacement and ended his ability to work physically. Since then, Robert has continued to recruit volunteers to keep helping and, in some cases, has had to pay professionals to do the work required to help.

What does the future look like for your business, and how can Venmo help you achieve your goals?*

The situation explained in the previous question has taxed the charities physical and monetary resources and has created pain for Robert to sustain his personal donations. With the health issues and age creeping in Robert decided to move from the Kansas City Metro to the Wichita, Kansas Metro where some friends and family are closer and where he began his marriage and his first military assignment at McConnell AFB, Kansas. His goal is to perpetuate the services that HPLA Charites has provided in Kansas City and begin the same mission in Wichita. Now a 100% disabled veteran and with excellent care by the Veterans Administration Robert is ready and able to lead and to perpetuate his mission by networking with local leaders for added support and to expand the mission of Habitaciones Para Latinos Association in Wichita, Kansas.

What does the future look like for your business, and how can Venmo help you achieve your goals?*

An annual grant for any amount would be used to acquire a part-time or full-time employee specially to seek out those in need of the charities mission and expand the word-of-mouth advertising which seems to provide the greatest impact in finding folks in need. A vehicle is available to be donated as is all the tools necessary to complete most any home repair task. The employee would have access to the vehicle plus all resources and a place to work. The future looks bright for HPLA and a grant would light an even brighter  path or two.

If applicable, tell us how being a member of a historically underrepresented community (Black, Women, Latinx, etc.) may have shaped your entrepreneurial experience.

Robert has personally experienced men and women, boys and girls being bullied and ignored by others. He has physically interceded in a fist fight and in acts of bulling.  Sometimes being hurt him-self as a consequence.

Raised in the “Barrio” with eight siblings and seeing how working hard and getting an education brought his family to a position of integrity producing professors, firefighters, artist, homemakers, certified auto-mechanic, business professionals and military leaders. This suggest he knows the path to lead those in need out of poverty. The fight against decimation, bullying and arrogance is always going to be present. Growing up Latino, Robert saw the special treatment of white kids by predominately white teachers. It  was so evident in “Roberts Day”. Today no one can dispute that it happened or that  it still continues. Robert got a leg up as a young man. As one of few Latinos in his vocation he was mentored by many white men and women and his talents rewarded and kept in demand. He is a good person and it’s evident.  Having lost his Dad and starting to work at age 11 he still is grateful to  one Leroy Corzine (RIP) that taught him the trade of meat cutting by age 12.

HPLA provides the boost necessary to anyone they can find who needs it. Join them, please.

www.hplacharities.org/donate

CINCO DE MAYO-Fundraiser

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Proud to be Latino

Help us to help our fellow brothers and Sisters that may need a little help to regroup

Fundraiser for HPLA

2024 is flying by and for us old folks that holds true, more so, than for the younger generations.  As a kid in elementary I could not wait for summer to come. It seemed the days would drag along. Down side was that summer was over in a heartbeat. I have that feeling most every day as a senior.

As folks age the need for assistance to survive increases and what was a quick jump in the shower now requires grab bars, shower chairs and hand rails. Recently I realized that standing in the shower was not as easy as in years past. To fix that I acquired a couple of Grab Bars that hold on to the surface with suction. They are not like the arrows you licked the end on to stick to the wall, but rather an ingénues suction cup system that creates a tight vacuum seal. Each time I use the shower I make sure the grab bar works without failing and after several months they seem to be working just fine. I smooth surface is a must and permanently attached grab bars is best.

As the founder of HPLA I was involved in hundreds of projects where older folks did not have the resources to secure a safe entry and exit out of the bath. In a recent stay at a hotel the handicap shower was not only zero entry but was equipped with hand rails shower chairs and portable shower wands. Thank You to the construction industry as well as all other hospitality and public facilities that have made every effort to get us in and out of a bathroom or building safety.

However in our client base we are called upon to retrofit ones home to accommodate those safety features. Organizations are working diligently to add wheel chair ramps and grab bars, but the need by individuals far outruns the large nonprofit organizations capability. Secondly getting the attention of those groups can be nearly impossible. One organization demands a down payment to come preview the project. Granted the money was refundable or goes against the cost of the project, but as in many times in my past $100. was unattainable or a luxury. People in need don’t have money under the mattress. They live pay check to paycheck and a disability ruins there life. This is not news. It has been going on forever. The good news is we are making progress. The federal and state governments have established & funded programs to help. The folks that are left behind are the folks we look to find. We ask friends and families “do you know someone that is hurting through no fault of their own”? Almost everyone does, but very few want to get involved to help even if it’s just to refer them. So what can you do?

I a recent conversation I mentioned there was an organization that was helping low income homeowners with home repair for free. Really?

Yes I said “ if you know anyone that needs help just have them look up HPLA Charities. Sometimes that is all it takes, bringing us up to your circle of friends. The grass roots organizations like ours get to folks the big non-profits will never see or even care to see. At HPLA we care about everyone and make every effort to help. If the project is to big than we help reach someone who can help. We become your case manager.

We aren’t paid by grants or donations. We work for free. We ask for donations to buy the grab bars and the hand rails. Yes, the building supplies and materials to help those that are in need through no fault of their own..

HELP! http://www.hplacharities.org/donate

Death & Taxes We Will All Face Both

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As the year moves closer to the second quarter and April 15th looms, it is always a good reminder to count our blessings. If you are reading this post, I assume, you are not in danger or in a dire situation. So yes, you are blessed. From my point of view there is plenty of reason to be depressed and sad. I can’t imagine, but maybe you can, what the profile would be of a person who is thrilled to death with their life and happy where they are today. I am more able to see how someone could be totally depressed and sad right now.

If we create a starting point. let say the space between here and earth’s moon, what things are happing out there that thrills you heart? I am trying to stay optimistic, but between space junk and the possibility of an asteroid hitting the plant nothing thrilling comes to mind. There are many events that are happing that are “aha” moments. A new moon lander almost landing upright, not quite, but providing important feedback so we can start colonizing another plant. I know I am being selfish, but shouldn’t we try to preserve this plant and make peace on it. The future generations can and will be better equipped to fend for themselves, right? At the rate we are going those who might survive a “nuclear winter” will be more concerned with seeing the sun than going to the moon.

Bringing it down to earth though I just lost my oldest brother and the patriarch of our family. My concern is what is going to happen in the next year and not so much the next century. My father was born in 1911, my oldest brother I just lost was born in 1937 and his oldest son in 1958. I was born in 1946 my oldest daughter in 1966. In thinking about our evolution and comparing it to the age of this earth I am certain the earth will outlive hundreds of generations to come and has nourished many generations before. So, what should we be doing to be happy? Is the answer that each of us should be doing all we can for each other as opposed to helping unworthy billionaires figure out how to go on vacation to another plant while ours goes to hell? Or better yet to “ice”? I think you may be on the right track if we spend more time helping people in need of the very basics of life. (Maslow’s hierarchy level one).

So, getting into the reality of life here on earth and trying to help one another, I can’t help but point out that there is so much diversity in our thinking that i can’t hardly get a handful of people to agree what color an orange is. Everyone has their own agenda and when looking at the macro picture of where we are today, in the US of A. There is nothing but chaos. Who are the needy and why do I need to work hard for their benefit? Let’s examine that question. Let’s say a business burns down, and all the workers are without work. What should we do? Let them deal with their problem without any help? Put together a “Go Fund Me” page. Of course, it comes down to who is the closest to these workers and how much these folks care about the workers survival. If it’s my son or daughter, who is without work, it impacts me more than anyone. Tragedy seems to increase the circle of concern from family to friends to neighbors to community. So, if we look at fires in our world you can find them everywhere you turn. The key is who is closer to the fire and what should we do when it is inside our home. If I am without money (broke) all I can give is my labor. If I have limited resources, I can give until it begins to hurt me. If I have plenty of money, I give some, but I am more prone to call on the family, friends and community rather than to just flip the entire bill. Why is that? It’s called lack of empathy. It’s called watching instead of acting. It’s called “not my problem”. Put out the fire closest to you and the next one if you can.

HPLA Charities was established to be there as if it was our home our family member in trouble. We have seen the cold bust a water pipe causing water to spray all over the bathroom and an old lady unable to move have to yell to find help because her phone was dead. I have had old folks fall and lay on the floor for hours because they could not move. Yes, technology is available to overcome these tragedies. But, if it’s the difference between keeping the lights on or buying an emergency alert bracelet which would you chose. The answer to many of these problems is we donate to charities who help these folks. We pay taxes so first responders are available 24/7. We stop by to check on the elderly neighbor. We do all we can for our own safety and for those closest to us. What is the best way to further your reach for those in need? Prayer? That is never discouraged, but I can assure you praying will not do anything for someone laying on the floor. It takes a physical being to help. No disrespect to those that have had a gradian angel appear. No disrespect for those who have had a cancer disappear. For me it is better to read and understand God’s word and be the hands and feet to answer prayer proactively. I’ll quote Ms. Burnice, “I know God sent you to me, he always answers my prayers”. Burnice will be 90 years old in May. She lives alone but has all the resources to handle an unexpected tragedy. Her prayer is to be able to stay in her home and remain self-sufficient until her dying day. If Burnice was not able to pay all her bills due to increased costs of living, what would she do. What would you do? HPLA has been able to pay utility bills to keep the lights on. We have been able to fix the leaky toilet and save on the water bill. We have built wheelchair ramps and eliminated trip hazards. we have installed storm doors to keep out the cold and reduce heating bills. Anything that can break down in a home we have at one time or another, fixed it. For Burnice it was a vehicle out of control that mowed down here exterior fence. How were we able to do that? You may not believe it, but the sacrifice of our volunteers gets the biggest credit. Hundreds of hours of blood sweat and tears. Yes, some living conditions we see are so deplorable it makes you cry. But the cost of the new chain link fence and all the accesories came from your donations.

After a very short life of 87 years my brother Leonard crossed into eternity and will no doubt be crowned with a crown of many jewels. But what he did here on this earth is why many friends and family are alive and well. Brother Leonard was put to work as soon as he could walk. Forced to leave school to help support our family. He missed being a kid. He helped our dad to work on cars. That was what my dad did after WWII. Auto repair kind of ran in the family after that and with many mouths to feed the sooner one of us could help we did. As a faithful Catholic family at the time babies came along pretty often. As the oldest boy Brother Leonard got the short stick. Sister Ellie, my oldest Sis, had her hands full changing diapers at a young age. She still works hard to stay in her home and is blessed by a very loving and supportive family. Brother Leonard and Sister Ellie have acquired some wealth. Nothing to compare with the Billionaires of today, but enough to pay for a plumber without relying on charities like HPLA. So many others out there are not so lucky.

Brother Leonard evolved from sweeping floors in the garage for Dad to an expert in standard transmission repair and on to teach for a prestige collage the art of overhaul and repair of the newest most sophisticated drive trains of our time. Along the way he taught in church, led mission trips to help folks in other countries, mentored hundreds of Mr. Goodwrench mechanics working today and more importantly insured his Mom & Dad, his wife and her family and all of us siblings were all taken care of. Sometimes sacrificing until in hurt. Could he have been finding ways to reach the moon. You can bet on that. Instead, he did all he could for those closest to him including the city we all love. San Antonio.

While this is a cry for donations to keep us doing work to help those in need, I have tried to exalt Brother Leonard as an example of what is the perfect American. Of Hispanic origin, his example will make America Great by doing what we all should be doing. Praising God and working to the bone to insure no one dies needlessly on our watch.

May your life be long and your taxes low. A donation to HPLA is a tax deduction. We are a registered 501c3 which qualifies your donation for a tax deduction. Please give via www.hplacharites.org/donate aka Habitaciones Para latinos Association. God Bless us one and all. Robert L. Flores Chairman.