OUR STORY

Homeless at Heart (HAH) began in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2015 with a simple idea. After attending a basketball game with his dad, 11-year-old Charles Plyler noticed a homeless mother and her children on the street. Wanting to do something kind, Charles suggested making 5 to 10 decorated shoeboxes filled with essentials and handwritten notes to give out on Valentine’s Day. His dad encouraged him to invite friends to help and make it even bigger. With just six weeks until Valentine's Day, Charles set a goal of delivering 200 boxes across Atlanta.Thanks to the involvement of several schools, that number was exceeded by more than 150. Encouraged by the success, Charles and his dad set a new goal of 2,000 boxes for Valentine’s Day 2016. With more than ten schools participating, over 3,000 boxes were collected and distributed.

As the years went on, the campaign continued to grow. By 2020, Homeless at Heart was preparing 5,000 Valentine’s packages to be distributed throughout Atlanta, serving more shelters and individuals than ever before. That same year, HAH began hosting Valentine’s dinners in partnership with local shelters, creating moments of celebration for individuals and families. Today, we’ve completed 11 successful Valentine’s campaigns and are preparing for our 12th in 2026. What began with decorated shoeboxes has since transitioned into Valentine’s bags, still filled with everyday essentials and handwritten cards. Students, schools, and volunteers remain at the heart of our mission.

From one child’s idea, Homeless at Heart has become a community effort that continues to share love, hope, and encouragement with thousands of people each Valentine’s season.