Shelly Talmo brings solace to DC homeless

Shelly Talmo says her father often told her, "Charity starts at home.”

His words inspired the Lewes native to offer comfort kits to homeless residents of parks in Washington, D.C., as the Little Yellow Comfort Wagon.

After moving to Rockville, Md., nearly a year ago, Talmo, a 1981 graduate of Cape High, began looking for a charitable outreach to join.  She was struck by  how many homeless people -- nearly 8,000 --  live on the streets and in the parks of our nation's capital.

Known locally for her work as an artist, jewelry designer and sandwich-slinging server at Arena's Cafe, Talmo previously volunteered in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and other disasters. There, she witnessed the helping power of small tokens of comfort,  perhaps lip balm or a comb, offered in times of distress.

“The Red Cross taught me about comfort kits,” Talmo said. “I saw all the homeless in D.C. and thought, ‘I’m sure they can use hygiene items, simple things, soap, socks, hats, sunglasses.”

After reaching out to soup kitchens and other agencies, Talmo was inspired. She bought a nylon buggy and filled it with comfort kits she had assembled. The 'Little Yellow Comfort Wagon' was ready.

Comfort kits include a toothbrush and toothpaste, soap and a soap dish, ChapStick, antiseptic wipes and other hygiene products, shampoo and conditioner, deodorant, razors, socks, snacks, a comb and an instruction pamphlet listing resources such as shelters and soup kitchens, along with a personal note from Talmo to remind recipients someone cares about them and their situation.

When she goes into any of the 350 parks in D.C. to distribute kits, Talmo said, she talks to everyone who takes a kit and the variety of circumstances that led people onto the streets is extraordinary.

"I touch these people. I ask, 'What's up, how are you doing, what do you need?'" Talmo said. "Anything but drugs, alcohol or money, and I'll do my best to get it."

Mental illness, drug abuse, felonies, post-traumatic stress disorder, the loss of a job, abusive relationships, addiction and alcoholism: the reasons for homelessness are many and varied but as the Little Yellow Comfort Wagon founder and distributor, Talmo refuses to pass judgement.

Barely 5 feet tall, Talmo said she operates her missions during the afternoon and has collected a cohort of companions like Eddie, a man who was homeless in Baltimore for 25 years before he got sober 18 months ago. She said he offers insight and helps her navigate the communities safely.

"He wants to give back, and I feel very safe with him," Talmo said.

Nearly four months into this endeavor, she’s distributed more than 200 comfort kits and says she hasn’t even scratched the surface.

“Already, I’m overwhelmed. They are starting to know the Little Yellow Comfort Wagon,” Talmo said. “The primary purpose of what I do is to let people know that they are not forgotten. The secondary purpose is to distribute comfort kits... I can't sit back and watch humans suffering”

During her frequent returns to the Cape Region, she has received donations of supplies for the kits from Epworth UMC, and some of her old regulars from her years as a waitress have offered monetary donations.

As a recovering alcoholic who has been sober for 14 years, Talmo said she understands the demons that drive addiction and often lead people to the streets. She is not paid for her efforts, although she is currently in the process of registering Little Yellow Comfort Wagon as a nonprofit.

"You know, I struggled with addiction for 26 years, and in a lot of ways, being homeless can seem easier. You don't have to deal with rent, a cell phone, electric bills; you deal with what you are going to eat and where you are going to sleep," she said.

Since moving to Rockville, Talmo said she too, has felt the impact of high rents. Even in a dual-income household, her $1,600 rent in Rockville drained her personal savings. Only after months of relentless search has she been able to find affordable housing, but her battle continues for those who are still seeking shelter.

Despite her own financial tumult from moving to the city, Talmo said all the money and donations she receives for the comfort wagon, whether in person or through her gofundme page, go directly to the operations and acquisition of materials for her comfort kits.

She also offers sunglasses, T-shirts and other clothing upon request.

To donate or find out more information about Talmo's crusade to give comfort to the homeless, search the Little Yellow Comfort Wagon on Facebook, contact Talmo via email at iamlovey5@aol.com or go to www.gofundme.com/rssgus.