A woman in Brandon is on a mission to help the homeless in her neighborhood. And it was an effort that all started with a hashtag.
Now, she hopes to inspire a nationwide movement.
Michelle Van Etten put together 50 care packages filled with supplies -- and with the help of a Hillsborough County deputy -- set out Sunday to give them to people who struggle to survive on the streets.
Each pack -- filled with basic hygiene products, snacks, and lists with resources of places that will help them find work and get back on their feet.
Etten says it’s all about breaking the ice, establishing a friendship and letting them know someone is there to listen.
"So many people, I'm guilty myself, I pass by and I don't know their story. You'll never know their story. They could have fought in wars, they might have things going on, they might have skills that they don't know will make them employable if they have the right people talking to them and make that difference," said Michelle Van Etten, founder of Restore Americans First.
If you want to help make a difference, she has a Facebook page called "Restore Americans First.”
