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A solar powered battery pack, batteries, jumper cables, bus passes, and one night in a hotel might not look like a typical Christmas wish list, but for homeless people, that is the reality. Whaleyville resident Jennifer Bolding is determined to make those wishes come true with her nonprofit, Cruisin’ to Help the Homeless.

In November, Bolding posted on Facebook asking if anyone would be interested in ”adopting” a homeless person for Christmas. In her post, she mentioned how there aren’t a lot of resources to get gifts to adults, especially those who don’t have a permanent residence.

“I thought it would be nice to think about them and do something for them for Christmas,” she said. “So I started going around to the people that I know, like on a first-name basis, that I see on a regular basis and asking them what they wanted for Christmas … and posted their wish list. I didn’t think it would get much traction, but it did, and it blew up.”

Bolding said 19 people were “adopted,” and for those who she wasn’t able to get wish lists from, she made stockings with toiletries, snacks, hats, and gloves. Bolding also bought stacks of bus passes and fast food gift cards to give away as well. She dropped off all the gifts on Sunday.

Everyone was surprised and extremely grateful to have received anything on their list. Tears were shed and smiles were shared as boxes were opened and presents were unwrapped. Bolding said this is something she definitely plans to continue doing every year.

Bolding started her nonprofit in June after her sister’s friend’s house caught on fire. After scrounging up any of her own belongings and buying things from yard sales to donate to them, Bolding was inspired to continue helping.

She said she originally wanted to start a nonprofit to aid families who were displaced due to natural disasters, but she quickly realized that she could help more people more often if she focused her efforts toward homelessness.

Through a combination of her own money and donations, Bolding visits homeless people every weekend and fills up her car with a variety of much needed items such as clothes, food, toiletries, blankets, flashlights, tents, and much more.

She said it’s also important to her to go beyond delivering physical items.

“Besides just giving things out to people, I would like to help people get off the street,” she said. “So I help them in any other way that I possibly can.”

She said she’s done this by loaning people her phone so they can apply for food stamps, Medicaid, and jobs. She’s also done people’s laundry for them, taken them out to restaurants, and helped them apply to homeless shelters. 

“That’s the thing with Jennifer, it’s not putting a Band-Aid on the thing,” Paula Bolding, Jennifer’s mom said, who also helped her hand out gifts on Sunday. “She comes back, she gets to know the people. She becomes friends with them.”

Paula said she always tried to show Jennifer how important it is to give to others by adopting Salvation Army angel tree kids, donating to nonprofits, and volunteering. Now, she gets emotional thinking about how proud she is of her daughter and how much of a direct impact she’s making on people’s lives.

Jennifer has been able to help a few people find more permanent housing since she started her nonprofit. On her Facebook, she shared the story of a mother with twin babies who she helped get out of a domestic violence shelter and into an apartment. Jennifer also met a couple who are living in their car and has become very close with them. She was able to raise enough money through a GoFundMe to buy them new parts for their car so it would pass inspection.

Jennifer is also temporarily housing Nina, who she’s been helping since the summer. After becoming aware that Nina was living in a tent with an abusive boyfriend, Jennifer took Nina in. Luckily, they are in contact with Nina’s sister who lives in Tennessee and Nina will be going to live with her after the holidays. 

“[Jenifer’s] an angel,” Nina said. “She’s selfless. She doesn’t do anything for herself. She does this out of the goodness of her heart. I wouldn’t be here today without her.”

As selfless as Jennifer’s acts may be, she was recognized as WTKR News 3’s “Everyday Hero” in October, which she said made her feel “really good” and it was a “shock.” 

She said she was nominated by a girl living in her car who she’s become very close to, and all the homeless people in the area voted for her.

Jennifer said she hopes, and thinks, that she’s reducing the negative stigma about homeless people through her nonprofit work.

“I really wanted to start helping homeless people because I know most people turn their nose up at them, don’t want to look in their direction, don’t want to speak to them, and even just stopping to say hello to someone on the streets can make their day,” she said.