Luke Williams: Helping the Homeless One Bag at a Time

Twelve-year-old Luke Williams is a Metro Christian Academy seventh grader with a passion for helping the homeless. With three older siblings, Luke says there were always snacks in the car. When he was 5, his mom, Tammy Williams, would see a homeless person and ask if Luke wanted to give them a snack. From there, his interest in serving the homeless population grew.

TulsaKids: You started passing out snacks with your mom from the car, but tell us when this became a personal project for you?

Luke: It was with a Thanksgiving project in Ms. Barnett’s class (Amy Barnett, Metro teacher). One of our activities was doing a homeless bag station where we packed bags. I started doing my own bags in batches, and after about nine months of doing it, my mom asked if I wanted to do a not-for-profit, so that’s how it got started.

Note: Luke’s bags include a bottled water, protein bar, toothbrush, socks and peanut butter crackers.  He also gives away Bibles if a person wants one. If they have a dog companion, Luke provides dog bags that contain a bottled water, dog food, dog treat and a small dog toy.

TulsaKids: Tell us about giving out the bags.

Luke: I get out of the car and have a brief conversation. It can be as simple as a “Hi, hello.” Or it can go to, “Hi, what’s your name?” Sometimes people don’t want to talk. If they give me their name, I call them by name because that makes them feel human. Sometimes people talk to me a lot. Some will tell me more of their life stories.

TulsaKids: Can you share a story about talking with someone?

Luke: A couple of weeks ago on our Friday adventures, a guy was talking to me a lot. I got him a Bible from the car. He started venting to me. He was clearly frustrated, but he just wanted someone to listen to him, so I just sat there and listened to him. He said, “You act like I’m almost human.”  I gave him a Bible and said, “I know you don’t believe in life after death, but I want you to read this.” I told him there was a savior out there who loved him, no matter if he believed in him or didn’t believe in him.

Note: Luke says they usually go out on Fridays after dropping a sister off for ballet, so he calls them “Friday adventures.”

TulsaKids: Why do you think it’s so important to get out of the car and listen?

Luke: All humans like to talk, and when they have something going on they like to talk about it with trusted people like parents or friends. The homeless people don’t always have people to talk to or to listen to them. It’s not healthy to not be able to talk.

TulsaKids: How do you relate so well to adults?

Luke: Some would say it’s a blessing, but it’s more of a curse. There are some really good things because it allows me to relate to the homeless community and do some of the things I’m doing, but it’s harder sometimes in middle school.

TulsaKids: Do you have any other stories about serving people living on the street?

Luke: I saw a man in a wheelchair. He only had one arm, no legs. I asked him if he needed help, and he said he was going to the Day Center (for the Homeless). I asked if I could push him. At first he had a hard time trusting me to push him. He would go around the grates himself.  It was hard because the one thing I never want to do is make them feel offended. He’s a grown adult and I’m just a 12-year-old, so it was hard for me to push him. I was thinking, I don’t know how he does it, but I’m sure he was thankful. I wish I could do it every single time he goes to the Day Center, but I can’t.

TulsaKids: Tell me about your not-for-profit.

Luke: It’s called One Bag One Hope. My mom asked if I wanted to do it, but first we had to find out how to do it. We met with lawyers. We just got the 501(c)(3) after about five months. My main mission is to get other people involved in making and distributing bags, and I also want other people to find their passion. Not everyone wants to help homeless people. It could be helping infants or orphans. I don’t want kids to think they’re too young to make a difference in the world. I’m always reminded of that.

TulsaKids: You’ve been on quite a journey. What advice do you have for other young people?

Luke: Find your passion, grow your passion — and you’re never too young. There are so many places you can volunteer. It’s just what you like and love. At chapel in elementary school, there was always an adult who would say, “You’re never too young to make a difference in this world.” I never believed it, but now I see that you can.

Note: Luke also helped out as a mentor at Camp Patriot over the summer. Amy Barnett, his teacher, says that Luke talked to the other kids about serving others, and they served at the Food Bank and Emergency Infant Services.

TulsaKids: What advice do you have for parents?

Luke: Don’t let things hold your kids back. Don’t hold your kid back. Don’t let anything hold you back. I get it that kids and adults are busy and will make excuses to not do something. Just do it.

TulsaKids: Who inspires you and why?

Luke: Ms. Barnett inspires me the most. She has compassion for everybody, whether it be in the classroom or the community. She makes sure you’re heard. She makes sure everyone’s opinion is heard. She makes sure no one is left out. She’s amazing.

TulsaKids: What else would you like to share?

Luke: What I have to think about is that my mission is not to solve the homeless problem. My mission is to show that people care, and that there is no way in the world that no one cares about them. I don’t want people to hand the bags out the window. I want them to walk over to people, have a conversation with them. I never noticed homeless people until I actually looked for them. Some people look and turn their heads. Don’t turn your head.

I’m OCD, and I think everything should be fair. Everything should be right. I feel that I should help people who are not as privileged as us. I have anxiety and depression. One day I had a really bad day. I was telling my mom about how upset I was. My mom said, “OK, Luke, let’s go hand out bags.” I didn’t want to, but when I did, I felt so much better. I realized that having anxiety and depression is normal. People have it, people have experienced it, and it happens. I know my family is by my side.

TulsaKids: Finally, what’s a fun fact about you?

Luke: My favorite animal is a rabbit.

If you would like more information, would like Luke to speak to your organization or place of worship, or would like to contribute to One Bag One Hope, email onebagonehope@gmail.com.