8-Year-Old Finds Out Her Grandfather Is Homeless And Founds Nonprofit To Help Others Like Him.

Jan 14, 2019 by apost team

Did you know there are 554,000 homeless people in America? That means on any given night, more than half a million people don't know where they'll sleep or where their next meal will come from. Most of us don't realize how bad the homeless problem is until someone we love is left out in the cold.

Addisyn Gross was eight years old when she met her maternal grandfather for the first time. Her mother and grandfather had a falling out, and they hadn't spoken for nearly a decade. When Addisyn's grandfather was diagnosed with cancer, he knew he didn't have much time left. He decided to repair his relationship with his estranged daughter.

Addisyn's grandfather asked someone to track down his daughter. They found her living in Fenton, Michigan with her husband and three children. Addisyn's mother knew this could be her last chance to speak to her father, so the family traveled to Indiana to see him.

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Addisyn's grandfather was being cared for at a veteran's facility. Addisyn was shocked to learn her grandfather had been living on the streets for the past six years. He'd also lost one of his legs. It broke Addisyn's heart to think of all the people who were alone without a warm bed to sleep in.

Even at eight years old, Addisyn Gross knew she had to do something, so she founded Snuggle Sacks. Snuggle Sacks makes homeless survival kits and raises public awareness about homelessness. At first, Addisyn asked her friends and family for donations to make the snuggle snacks. With the help of her older brother and sister, Addisyn was able to make 50 Snuggle Sacks to distribute to local soup kitchens and shelters.

Snuggle Sack Survival Kits contain hats, socks, gloves, hand warmers, blankets, chapstick, bottled water, non-perishable food, and travel size toiletries. The Snuggle Sacks give people a sense of hope while erasing the stigma that surrounds homelessness.

Addisyn Gross is now 11 years old. She has appeared on several radio and television programs. In 2017, USA Today ran an article featuring Snuggle Sacks. More than 1000 Snuggle Sacks are made and distributed every month. Addisyn's brother Jaxson and sister Sheridan continue to help Snuggle Sacks succeed.

Isn't Addisyn Gross amazing? She has more compassion than some adults. If you would like to donate to Snuggle Sacks, you can do so here. Let us know what you think of Addisyn's organization and pass her story on to your friends to help us spread the word about this incredible organization!