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.

Super Bowl Champs Parade 2024

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Even if football isn’t your thing, I know you can’t help it if you puff out your chest and yell GO CHIEFS if your happy, they won. Today there is a parade in progress to honor the team and expose Kansas City Metro to the world for the fantastic community that it is. To have successful professional teams in Kansas City is a wonderful thing. If you ask what makes the teams successful, I suggest it’s the fans. Sure, the local business is owed tremendous credit. Their support and sponsorship are vital. However, all their success filters down to the population of the Kansas City Metro and surrounding area who work for them or buy their products and services.

Ironically the team colors add very much to the annual celebration of Valentines Day. Today is a perfect day to wear red. It is a great feeling to see so many people coming together in solidary to honor the Chiefs. As is with any sport the preparation to bring 11 offensive and 11 defensive football players to work so well together is amazing. Credit is given to the leadership, the coaches the quarterback etc. but I feel more credit needs to go to those that are out there working alongside the poster boys. there are men and women who are never seen or discussed, ever. I noticed the person that has the quarterback’s cape at the ready on the sidelines when it’s cold. I notice the water boy/girl that run out on the field to provide relief for a thirsty player when called on.

I was blessed to have served with my brother, a three letterman in high school football. The team was impressive with players big and strong. But in the background were the equipment managers and the workers who maintained the locker room. Dedicated people who worked hard to ensure the whirlpools were the right temperature or the towels clean and at the ready. Each of you have been there at some level. So, what makes a winner? Yes, it’s the supporting team members. “There is no “I” in team”. You’ve heard that one. For those of you who identify as Alpha males or females we are often reminded that we are who we are because someone got us here. In the case of LULAC it is an organization which was founded years ago by some very concerned citizens. It is only fitting that we remind ourselves that the mission they established is a mission we need to perpetuate today.

LULAC’s mission statement is to advance the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, housing, health, and civil rights of Hispanic people in the United States12.

We could add “of the Hispanic people of the world today”. I have seen good intensions in LULAC members, but like any organization, any team requires the hard work of many dedicated people focused on the mission. Football is for a win. What is Lulac for? The mission is very broad and can use your support in many areas. For the Kansas City Metro and from my perspective it should focus on getting our children in educational and civic minded programs for the purpose of enhancing the culture. If there is a alpha male/female leading the organization, they are nothing without the support and the work of the team. Give them suggestions on where you want to help. If you are reading this and not a member of a council please look at the membership page on the main menu of this site and signup.

It is time for the councils to re-registor for their 2024 annual participation. For new councils it is time to recruit the minimum number of members required for acceptance and apply. I encourage you to understand where you can be most valuable in support or leading of your council. The “Dues are now Due”.

As of this moment, Kansas City has been embarrassed, to the world, only because of one or two ignorant members of the community that could not treat a fellow with respect and let bygones be. Let’s put feet to our prayers and expose those that are a threat to our community. Convince our kids that there are better ways to settle differences than violence. Maybe try to out preform your enemies scholastically. Please pray for all victims to heal and recover quickly and the shooters be caught quickly. Go Chiefs, Go Kansas City!

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Don’t Cry on Societies Shoulder and Expect Sympathy

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Times are hard and folks are begging for help. Please know we want to help. HPLA Charities AKA www.habitacionsparalatios.org exists to help low income homeowners in need of home repair. But please don’t ask us to be sympathetic to your need when you display piercing at every part of your body imaginable or tattoos that embellish them or those that stand along. Society accepted, reluctantly, cigarettes or beer for young folks to be consumed in years past, however the bar has raised to a point where the cost of social norms for young adults has gotten ridiculous and society can not afford to support those people who indulge in such behavior and yet reach out for help due to financial pain.

As a 501c3 charity we have helped folks get a leg up and have see them go on and live an independent and self sufficient life style. The list is long of those who are giving back and working hard to survive in today’s, extra ordinary, and difficult time. For the new clients, these folks need to start with the basics and if they cannot define the basics than someone has to direct them to the hundreds of entities that are there to help educate them. I address this post to anyone of you reading it. You know several friends and family that come to you with hard luck stories and you wish you could do something to help. There is help!!!!!

I am not exaggerating in saying there are hundreds of organizations who help. HPLA Charities is here to help with minor home repair. But I am going to ask, what is it that you need? What is it your friends need help with? Rent, utilities, food, housing? At HPLA we want to do what ever is necessary for every family or individual to have their very basic philological needs met. I bore my readers with Maslow’s hierarchy. The pyramid of life begins at the bottom with attaining the very basic of needs. Food, shelter, clothing, safety. I see nothing in basic survival that suggest having piercing or tattoos. Those things are fore folks that have attained and earned the next level of the hierarchy.

If you are reading this I am preaching to the choir but please know you have to be the conduit that gets the word to these folks of which we speak. I recently spoke to a young man who got a girl pregnant. She is 8 months along and the girls Dad is trying to help the young man get work to support his daughter and the soon to be new family. If the Dad had known what was going to be than the thousands of dollars he spent on tattoos might have been diverted. But, since most folks are living pay check to pay check now there is no thought of the future, just today. So now they are crying on societies shoulder to pay for the prenatal care the medical expenses and the cost of feeding the new born. And some are asking society to pay for student loan debt. Really? Really?

As a liberal government tries to help the poor or a conservative government turns their back due to what they may think is stupidity and laziness of the populous, that fact remains, society is impacted. Pregnancy is going to raise its head. Testosterone is inbred. Is it OK to outlaw abortion while third world countries are allowed to have newborns die of starvation? There is no desire to get political here. Our concern is only to try to get support and resources to do what we can do in our own neighborhoods to insure that everyone of our neighbors has their basic philological needs met.

End of story, but please consider a contribution to www.hplacharites.org/donate so we can try to reach those in need and provide them the basic resources. Please take our mission on yourself. Or better yet lets work together to better each other. God Bless You!

Who do you trust?

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At my age I tend to lean toward old friends and family. All those who you know that have never done you wrong. You can add the expression “those that never did wrong by you”. So what would cause someone to turn against you? I googled and got to Quora.com. I harvested some reasons I agree with. What is sad is someone has to admit they are wrong. But no one wants to admit to you that you are correct and they are wrong. They definitely will not admit to doing you wrong.

  • One of may reasons folks do you wrong is due to their effort to gain power through bullying you. They are probably jealous of you or feel threatened by your competence.Their aggression is often perceived as confidence. In reality it is a masking of their insecurities. It is important to try and identify the root cause of the issue and address it in a constructive manner. If you are experiencing this kind of situation, it may be helpful to seek the advise of a trusted friend or professional. What are some ways to identify the to root cause of an issue? This is a complex process, but here are some steps that may help. 1) Identify the people who have turned against you and what their motivations might be. Are they someone you know well or a stranger? what is their relationship to you and why might they want to turn others against you? 2) Look for patterns in the behavior of the of the people who have turned against you. Are there commonalities in their actions such as timing, location, or triggers. Are they acting alone or is there a group involved? 3) Ask questions: Talk to the people who have turned against you and try to understand their perspective. Ask them why they are behaving the way they are and try to listen without getting defensive. 4) Reflect on your own behavior: take a step back and reflect on your own behavior. Is there anything you may have done to contribute to the situation? Are there any misunderstanding that need to be cleared up? 5) Seek outside perspectives: If you are having trouble identifying the root cause of the issue, seek the help of a trusted friend, family member, or professional. They may be able to offer a fresh prospective and help you identify the underlying problem. Remember identifying the root cause of an issue takes time and patience. Be open-minded and willing to listen to all perspectives. By doing so, you’ll increase your chances of resolving the issue in a constructive and positive manner.
  • Another reason might be that person wants to drag you down to make themselves feel better. If you are living a good life or enjoying great success a person who does not like the way you do things may only be able to go forward by degrading you. They degrade you to themselves and to others to improve their own self-image. Friends sometimes stab you in the back because of their own insecurity, jealousy or to get back at you. I once had a friend who was a Don Juan (is a legendary, fictional Spanish libertine who devotes his life to seducing women). He was very successful and carried the physical features to shoulder the name and the load. It was exciting to me to divulge to one girl, who he had pledged his devotion to, to show evidence of just the opposite. A photo of him in bed with another women. What would cause me to do that? I wanted her for myself. But , to see another be deceitful and display dishonest behavior and try to get away with it is infuriating. It should not be tolerated. It is unfortunate that the trait of dishonesty and narcissism is being exulted in many circles today. Why would anyone aid and abet such behavior.

Is it human nature that we go through life getting back at people for what ever reason. Probably in retaliation but maybe due to bad information. I had a superior who, I felt, was going out of their way to expose my weakness. He became my enemy and I did all I could to network with others and find some thread to his meanness. I later discovered that he had been mandated to ostracize all employees of a certain age and replace them with talented young people who would work for less. Secondly the new hire would not receive as much compensation for hitting the same goals. I was written up for failure to produce desired results and fired. I am thrilled today to have heard that most of the entire management team of that era was fired with no severance pay. What goes around comes around.

But, let get back to who do you trust? We experience life changes, some we can control and others we can not. After losing my job I was faced with some big decisions. The good news was I was receiving full benefit from my social security Insurance as was my wife though I had continued working. I started a Handyman business and tried to use my experience as a craftsmen to help folks. In a windfall settlement on some legal issues I was able to relieve myself of all debt. I grew up working hard to earn enough money to do the things I wanted to do and with my children all on their own and moving toward the peak of Marlow’s Triangle I felt blessed and at the peak of the triangle myself. As I worked to help folks with projects around their homes I worked with many financially secured folks spending money to make life better or maintain their investment. Of course many to add features and benefits. What I also ran into was very poor low income homeowners that had serious issues trying to keep up their homes. Older folks that were in a low income bracket with a fixed income which was way less than the cost to live & much less than the cost to keep up their home. Their option was to sell and clear out of their home or live in constant debt and buy as much time as the utility company and the tax collector would allow. Secondly came the code enforcement folks that would fine you for not cleaning up your yard or mowing the weeds. In time they, the county, would do the work, charge an outrageous price and charge the fee to your property taxes. They offered no relief since most times the taxes were delinquent which disqualified the homeowner for help. To move out of their homes and into a care facility would soon rob the homeowner of all the property value and monthly income. Thus be forced to become a ward of the state and be cared for by our tax dollar.

As D&R Services found more calls from these folks it was decided that a charitable organization be established that could call on volunteers and ask for donations to exacerbate the help. In 2016 Habitaciones Para Latinos Association was founded to help the Latino Community. Many in that demographic were hurting the most. As word spread the most savvy of folks started calling. Those folks were not the Latinos as the Latino Culture, who tended to be more self-sufficient to the extent of suffering more than they should.

To minimize being labeled a racist the organization the charity soon became known as HPLA Charities. It was open to all cultures and the focus of the charities advertising was to attract more families of all cultures. The client base became filled with poor folks of all cultures. As Covid 19 reared its ugly head the needs to help low income homeowners became greater, the contributions less and the list of volunteers few. A friend suggested to the “Kansas City Star” newspaper that they should focus on what Latinos bring to the community and thus a staff of reporters and videographers came calling on HPLA. On December 28, 2022 a beautiful four to five page full front page headline, as well as a video interview that was published on-line brought, great attention to the cause. the www.hplacharities.org/donate webpage got lots of hits. One $10.00 a month autopsy is still active today. D&R Services continued working at a discount for these same folks and officers of the company agreed that 90% of all profits retained by D&R Services would go to HPLA Charities. Due to COVID and lack of paid work D&R Services was dissolved in 2022 after 22 years of service.

Today HPLA has helped hundreds of families and is currently paying some of those families who can help do work for the charity, a small wage. These folks are still upside down on income to outgo so paying a grocery bill or a utility bill, for them, is better than getting a check. There has been a great deal of trust developed with our clients. They are still suffering way more than they deserve but the cost of living keeps getting way ahead of their ability to catch it. They are hard working faithful people who just need a leg up. We are just a band-aid. In closing the few hundreds of dollars we get to help are far outnumbered by huge charities with paid grant writers and paid management. Our clients can’t even get a returned call from them.

HPLA has never paid a salary to anyone. All funds go to benefit our clients. So please trust us as your fiduciary to pay your donations forward to these grass roots families lost in the weeds of bureaucracy and red tape. www.hplacharites.org/donate

We Need More Than Prayer

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Symbols of Valor
SYMBOLS OF VALOR

Peace

There is music that can help distract us from the stress and fears of life. So many great tunes for any occasion and every emotion. The world has always had suffering and hurt somewhere within it. For those who are softhearted and empathic with those that suffer it is difficult not to try to do something. Those that have the least to contribute are generally the ones that proportionally sacrifice the most . But when someone has given up all they can their final gift is that of prayer for others. For those of you that have lost your most precious gifts or are down to you’re last resource, prayer is always recommended but does not automatically refill your heart, wallet or physiological needs. While music maybe a temporary distraction before the hunger kicks in and the pain becomes unbearable a hot meal or a dollar bill works better.

Aside: There is a very negative view among too many Americans, that are apathetic about others in this condition, those being at their ropes end. Those folks suggesting, they are praying for someone, but it is just a cliché is of whom I speak. There is no real heart felt desire to actually pray or do anything at all to help. So, to cut to the chase, caring people do all they can to help and when they get to a point where there is nothing more that they can do they not only fervently pray but also reach out to others in their circle to partner with them to help people jointly.

The story of one “Davy Crockett” suggests that when he was a politician, he gave a speech which suggested that individuals can do all they can with their own resources to help folks but don’t take other people’s money, the taxpayers money, to do it”. It is very easy to give away other people’s money, he suggested, than it is to give away your own money”. That makes sense but then there is the term “Fiduciary”. Government has a channel for Americans to ask elected individuals to be their fiduciary and help people in need with tax dollars. There are laws for them to follow as well.

As to the government borrowing money with no real intention of paying it back is criminal. To do it under false pretenses is sinful. But if prayer is a just a cliché; than those spending their money for reasons that are not helping folks on their last leg I say it is sinful and indeed criminal. As a charity HPLA Charities relies on other people to help complete their mission. They exist off their partnership with donors. It has been made clear in all their posts that contributions are not wasted. Please know that contributions given by their sympathetic and loving donors are used to buy materials and repair parts. None goes to maintain a management team or paid staff. To suggest those who help them succeed in their mission have no skin in the game is wrong. HPLA relies on volunteers. These folks are ones that not only pray but also gift their skills, money and labor for the good of HPLA clients that are hurting. Donors become their partners.

Imagine Congress being a group of volunteers like HPLA that not only pray faithfully but donate their skills and their labor making them “fiduciaries” rather than “non-fiduciaries“. Elected officials may all start with good intentions, but it doesn’t take long to lose the mindset. Lobbyist will offer lots of temptation when they need a politician’s support for their greed/need. Who could resist having a home bought for their mother by another entity simply to vote yes or no? While good folks are just praying Satin’s workers are moving and shaking and using physical muscle to accomplish their mission. Money is readily available to them. The moral of the story here is that it requires more than just prayer to help those in need. Asking for spiritual help does help move people’s heart and no doubt encourages action. Action is what is being calling for. When a baby is drowning in the pool the first thing is not to pray, but to pull the baby out of the water. Yes, it makes sense that one can and should pray for strength to save the child but there is no time to wait for direction. “JUST DO IT”

At HPLA Charities they have tried to avoid showing the starving baby in a foreign land or one that is dying due to disease. It is not necessary to define people in need or picture someone dying. Each one of you can image pain or have seen it or even experienced it. You have seen death. There are families in our community and the communities around us that endure pain. They live in conditions that no one should have to live in. The pictures of immigrants living in tents or homeless communities built on the streets are seen every day. In the case of one community in Kansas City, Ks. some residents say they are happy with where they are and just simply want to be left alone. However, they beg on the street and hunt for food pantries to maintain the lifestyle. They will, being given the chance, accept a tiny home or sleep in a non-profits homeless shelter. Great efforts are being made to improve the existence of those folks. It is an insult to our country to see this carnage however. In this country there should be no one that goes hungry or does not have shelter. No one should have their heat turned off due to their inability to pay the bill. But every capable individual should have to contribute something to help others in return. HPLA has clients helping other clients when they are capable. The downside is most of their clients are not capable. Many are unable to move without help. Secondly most of these folks have contributed greatly to the community through the years, but the high cost of living has used up all their financial resources. Whom of you will be in the same situation one day?

In closing, please know that HPLA Charities is blessed with great volunteers and faithful contributors. Listen to your heart, listen to your favorite tunes, listen to the voice of GOD. The need is still there so HPLA Charities must ask for your donations to help a greater number of people and perpetuate the support of current clients. Be assured and know that HPLA Charities are fiduciaries.

As Memorial Day approaches, it is the wish of HPLA Charities for you to be careful, be safe and reflect on all those that have come before you. To sincerely pray for those that helped you along the way. Lastly to honor those who gave their life so we can have the security we so enjoy in America.

Please contribute if you can. Follow the link to www.hplacharities.org/donate

Blessings

In Memory of those who served

Mercy Peace Grace

2023 & 7th Year Doing Good Works

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There is arrogance, modesty and humility. Where would you place your self image or the person you think you are in these three choices? There are three views of an individual that need to be considered: One view is the person you think you are, Two the person another person thinks you are and three the person you really are. I would assume most people would find positive view of themselves. “I’m a good person”. “I try to be honest and sincere”. “I do unto others what I would want done to me”. You can come up with your own statement of who you think you are. It is unfortunate that in today’s world in the first meeting of any two people the person you think you are is not what the other person thinks you are.
In your travels I would guess you have run into thousands of people you read pretty right. Certain attributes lead you to a correct conclusion of a typical personality. Shy people are fairly easy to spot. So are type “A” over confident individuals. But the message here is assuming who someone is can only be confirmed by spending a lot of time listening to a person. By hearing their history and their interests etc.

After my first meeting with a new neighbor I liked him right away. I met his wife shortly thereafter and came to the same conclusion. These are great people and appear to be hard working honest people and more importantly taking good care of each other. Their Son, now 6 years old, was born shortly after our first meeting. Today they have moved to a new home away from us, but still remain close as we often exchange text messages, well wishes and on occasion a meal. I have not seen or heard anything that has changed my positive first impression view of them.
I have had many such encounters over the many years I have lived in this world. To pick a favorite person would be impossible, but one family often comes to mind and that is a Vietnamese family who come to the US as children during the Vietnam era we call the importation of the “boat people”. They are now very successful business owners and stayed in California where their family landed originally. That meeting was a bit different because it started as a business connection. I received tremendous respect and high regard from this family. Even from their children. They all assimilated well to America as did their children. It was easy for me to like them. There was nothing to dislike. They may have a different view of me that what I pray they have, but I have seen and felt only good vibrations from them.

First impressions are very deceiving and in many cases separate us form one and other without any need. In my line of work I have seen folks living in deplorable conditions. I have manage million dollars estates. In many cases there are sweet wonderful folks in both the rich and the poor. But its the sweet wonderful poor people that I strive to help more. Through HPLACharities.org/donate you van help too.

Breaking News-Another Tragedy

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As we break into spring here in the mid-west what is paramount to those of us who care is the senseless lost of life. Its happening all over the world and to be sure it is not anything new. The fact that more media is available to point it out may well be the case. There are many paths to take for this subject. One may be the media itself is euphoric at pointing out death and destruction. The other side might suggest that no one is happy to hear of any others joy or happiness if they themselves are not happy. The end result is there are more folks that pay attention to seeing things worst then they are facing then to see things much better than they have it. But you are the only one who can examine yourself and place yourself. For me it becomes heartbreaking sadness that diverts my attention on the one hand and sincere joy & love for others that equally diverts my attention to good news.

So what is interesting in all of these breaking news stories is that it is an event happening now. Something new and exciting, whether good or bad and yet to be determined. Many events are captivating while others are not. The end result is to stay tuned or tune out. A few WOW moments for me have been the isolated rain showers that dump huge amounts of rain without warning. Attribute it to climate change or just natural occurrences I am moved by the danger they create and the responses of the community to over come them. Most recently I heard the Fort Lauderdale airport runways were under water. Having flown in and our of that airport many times it was shocking to see it in that condition. The same holds true for California, not only for the flooding but for the fires. Recently it was New Jersey having brush fires. Today Kansas prepares for fires.When does it end?

So now you have the opportunity to tune in or tune out. Another tragedy today for Kansas City Metro. A 63 year old Kansas City, Missouri man died in a crash in Kingman County, Ks early Thursday morning. Apparently the man was on foot, but in the middle of the highway non-the-less. The driver said that he struck the man as it was un unavoidable situation. So there is another segue to tragedy, avoidable or unavoidable. But to the point,there are good news and good times today also. The Kansas City Parks will turn on most fountains on Fountain Day Friday April 14, 2023. Of the 48 fountains there will be a very few that cannot be repaired or put back in service in time for the celebration but the majority will. For the city of Fountains that is an excuse to celebrate. “Friday Night in the Big Town” has become a crying call for Kansas City and there is much to celebrate. The huge event to help folks party is the “NFL Draft” which will take place in front of the iconic Union Train Station in Kansas City, Missouri as it has received so many “icons” in it’s life span. So pick and choose the news you want to see or hear and see if you tune in or tune out for the next paragraph.

Recently it is believed that a life was saved. Can it be proven or documented? No! There is however circumstantial evidence to suggest it could be true. You decide. At the first inspection of a homeowners property there was light fixtures dismantlement from there base and hanging lose from the ceiling and the walls. A burnt receptacle was uncovered and was without power. Lights in fixtures and power to outlets were not present. The 220V receptacle was hanging in the air next to the stove. The floor in the front room was caved in or collapsed. HPLA Charities took on the project and was assisted in many ways by other non-profits but the hazards real hazards were on HPLA. Aka Habitaciones Para Latinos Association, this non-profit has a mission to help low income homeowners with minor home repair. There has been many times where minor turns to major in a heartbeat. That was the case here. It took some time to come up with the resources and the client was able to find temporary housing. To date we are able to say he can move back in if he wants. He is still getting therapy from a surgery that removed a tumor from his brain. He is still needing some physical help but the house is livable and safe. New breakers, receptacles, wires and light fixtures replaced. Floor leveled. An element in the old stove may best be fixed with a reconditioned used stove. That project is still in the works.

So if you read to here you can decide if the post was one of tragedy or glee. You can decide whether baby steps like these from enough groups like ours can save a life. Whatever, the need is tremendous and the resources few. There are those who have to have the private jet and a multi-million dollar yacht. (One fill up of gas in either vehicle would provide months of help to those we serve and who need us). Within this site there is a place to contribute. http://www.hplacharities.org/donate It takes very little from you to prevent tragedy. One big gift could possibly safe a life, but at least provide some safety. Thank you for following us. Remember: we do not have a paid staff and no donations are used for any reason but to benefit the clients we serve or who will be coming to us for help.

May you be richly blessed by doing all you can with what you have for those you can help on your won. We can do it together or we can do it for you with your donations.