This is the 5th annual Sammich Run. It was an idea I had come up with years back. Basically I wanted to get my friends to skate through San Francisco with me. But a lot of them stopped skating for one reason or another. Also I wanted to do something to help the homeless whenever I went and skated through San Francisco. Hence the Samich Run. The first couple of years, it was my mom and aunt slaving away to make sandwiches for me and my friends to give out to the homeless. I funded this by just saving some cash towards the end of the year. They would make us about 200 ham and cheese sandwiches in several hours. This year however, we decided that we should make the sandwiches ourselves. Five of us pounded out 335 sandwiches in 2 ½ hrs. There are a few friends who have been helping me since the beginning of this event. And now there are a lot of friends who are very enthusiastic about helping out with this event. I would like to thank everyone who has made this possible for the last 5 years. This year my girlfriend Richelle suggested we should bring some bagged up dog food for the homeless animals we see. Ha we saw more cats than dogs this year unfortunately. Sometimes random people see us give a sandwich to a homeless person and ask us which organization we are from, I simply shrug my shoulders and say “none”. I believe that people should just give just to give with no reason whatsoever. This is also the first year in which I decided to photograph this event. I don’t think I will photograph next years event just because I feel like it slows down the flow of us skating around and handing out sandwiches. So here is a rare glimpse of what my friends and I do for Christmas.
Also, I have taken this opportunity to shoot my very first set of Street/journalistic photos. So please critique my work guys.
This is the night before the Samich Run. 335 ham and cheese sandwiches in 2/12 hrs.
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Here are the street shots
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Nate and Hung taking the streets by force
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Nate talking and giving a sandwich to Debbie.
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Richelle giving dogfood to homeless lady.
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Random guy on the street posing for pic.
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CFC- "Cause for Concern" blazing through Market St.
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Nate with some guy looking like George Clinton. My attempt at the David Hill process.
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Jonathan
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Larry and Lilly Barry (Dog) have been homeless since 1986.
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Debbie is a very soft spoken and kind homeless lady. She has been out in the streets for 15 yrs.


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Here is Catman. I saw him hanging out on the sidewalk of the Powell station. He holds up a sign asking for cat food donations. He tells me that he usually hangs out on fisherman's warf. Catman says he does not stay at shelters.


19.This is Larry I saw him sitting on some steps at the Civic Center. He used to have a job in San Diego as a carpenter and he says he fell off the roof and that he dosen't remember much since. He takes of his hat and shows me his scar close to his temple. 3 yrs later he is here in San Francisco. Greg started to cry when he told me that he lost all his top teeth. I started to get chocked up when I realized that something as basic as your top teeth was really a necessity to this person. Greg is an alcoholic. He tells me that he drinks because of his physical pains. Despite of what the city of San Francisco has done for him and his medical conditions. He can't seem to find some assistance for his addictions.


20.I saw Andy ripping on his guitar at the park. He was very kind and was chatting with us. He had a home a couple weeks back when he lived with his nephew. His cat scratched his nephew by accident and threatened to kill his cat "sweetie" if his face swelled up. So, Andy left and has been homeless for a couple of weeks now. He keeps sweetie in a very comfortable compartment of his cart. She looks comfortable with all the blankets in this container. He has lived in San Francisco for 30 yrs now. A very interesting gentleman with a kind soul.

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Old, wise, and sometimes confused Shaman.
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27. Pit Stop

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29. And were finished!!!!

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31. Happy Holidays everyone

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I would like to thank the following for helping the Samich Run this year.
Richelle
Don
Jonathan
Shamman
Hung
Nathan
Warren
Tomas
Julie

Thanks for posting this! Nice story showing what a few people can do with good intentions. When you have so little, a sandwich or a dolor or two means a lot.

Next year you might try and see if any D grinner's would like to join you. More sandwiches can't hurt.

Sam

Fantastic. I love how you humanized these folks that can seem like strangers to us "homed" people.

Im glad you guys liked it.

Originally Posted by Sam Thanks for posting this! Nice story showing what a few people can do with good intentions. When you have so little, a sandwich or a dolor or two means a lot. Next year you might try and see if any D grinner's would like to join you. More sandwiches can't hurt. Sam

Ha! I noticed your in San Jose. So am I . Maybe next year you can come along

Fabulous series with an even better idea behind them. Thanks for sharing these and reminding us of what we need to take care of each other.

Truely a fun day there!

Wonderful gesture and some great street photography there. Thanks so much for sharing this.

Great story lines!!

cheers, tom

This is so fabulous! And you got some awesome photos to boot. What a wonderful thing for you to do...

Excellent!

Wonderful gesture of goodwill on your part and very good captures to document your efforts.

Next year you can count on me to provide some assistance.

Bravo!

I don't know what else to say. This is the true spirit of Christmas.

ann

Awesome idea man... I love to skate as well and the stoke you spread with everything you were doing is awesome. Keep it up.

Originally Posted by Ann McRae Bravo! I don't know what else to say. This is the true spirit of Christmas. ann

I kinda think people have lost touch with the idea of Christmas. Im not trying to be some sort of pompous prick either. What Im saying is all we do is buy and consume and then say this is Christmas. I don't have kids my Girlfriend and I spend money on ourselves all year round. To put it simply, we buy alot of toys. This year however, we did not buy anything for each other or anyone else for Christmas. We chose to give to the less fortunate.

Originally Posted by dsm02c Awesome idea man... I love to skate as well and the stoke you spread with everything you were doing is awesome. Keep it up.

Thx everyone for the encouragement.

Loved reading the story lines, loved looking at all of the photos. Such a nice thing to do. Thanks so much for sharing these!! :)

-- Lisa P.

Awsome holiday spirit!!!!! Great photo series as well.

Some excellent street photography here. What a wonderful Christmas story reminding us that caring is the best gift you can give.

I think that one of your photos would make a great entry in the current dGrin Sharp Shooters Challenge. For me, either 18 or 21 would fit the theme well, but many would make excellent entries.

Thank you so very much for sharing.

Virginia

Wonderful gesture and in the spirit of the season! And some great photos as well! Bravo!!!!!!! Let me know if you need help next year.

How truly cool