APPLETON (NBC 26) — Lizzy Knott, an Appleton woman, regularly hands out care packages to the homeless, equipped with hygiene products, water, a bible and personal note.
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A toothbrush, soap and toilet paper are simple things, but Lizzy Knott knows they can make the world of a difference.
“You can’t wash your hair on a regular basis, you can’t clean up like everybody gets to, it's actually a privilege to do that," she said.
"You look at people who are homeless, they just want that shower, they just want to clean up," she added. "I've seen many of them cry themselves to sleep because they couldn’t get clean, or they couldn’t wash their hair.”
For the past decade, Knott has carried care packages with her to hand out to people who are unhoused.
“Some of the homeless call me pastor Lizzy," she said.
The care packages cost Knott $50 to make, and they are equipped with personal hygiene products, a bible and a personal note.
“If you can keep your dignity, that means everything," Knott said.
She also gives tents, tarps and sleeping bags to people who need them. She's bought hotel rooms, gift cards and food for those in need.
“I will cook for them, I will do whatever needs to be done," she said. “Just hearing them say thank you and seeing that smile on their face, is more precious than silver and gold.”
She calls it a God-given mission, but more than that, it’s a personal one.
“I know what it’s like to go without, and I don't wish that on anybody," she said. "I was homeless for two years. I had to do without a lot of things, I couldn't get anything.”
On May 2, Knott plans to host a fundraising event at Pierce Park in Appleton. She says there will be live music and food.
She is still looking for sponsors and help to put on the event.
“I'm looking for the donations, so I can continue my work and continue helping others," she said. "I’d like to try and sell these care packages to people, for the price it costs me to make them, and they can sign in the card that they’ve donated and send a little personal message, so that I can give the care packages away to the homeless.”
She’s not stopping there; she said she plans to dedicate the rest of her life towards this mission.
“My biggest dream is to get a seven story hotel to house them, get a learning center in it, a rehab center in it and hopefully a little type of church," she said.
She also has a gofundme to help pay for the packages.
“Help them because it’s in their hearts to help them, and that’s what I'm asking people to do- use their hearts to help," she said. "We need help.”
