The Kensington area of Philadelphia is home to a large homeless population. Known for its open-air drug market, Kensington has tragically earned the nickname “Zombieland” due to widespread drug use.
While not every homeless person struggles with addiction, many individuals from Pennsylvania and New Jersey relapse here, drawn by the easy access to drugs and the limited threat of criminal charges.
At Ninja Llama Ministries, we have deep compassion for all individuals facing hardship in Kensington. Recently, we joined others from Lancaster County to distribute food and essential hygiene items. The response from the community was heartfelt and appreciative.
“One thing that struck me was how respectful everyone was,” shared Sheila Curran, co-founder of Ninja Llama Ministries. “When people went through the line to receive food and hygiene kits, they didn’t grab anything from the table. They waited patiently until someone handed them a kit.”
Todd Curran, Sheila’s husband and the ministry’s other founder, was moved by the overwhelming sadness he felt in Kensington. “It’s especially difficult to see children in this position, living in poverty and surrounded by drug abuse,” Todd said emotionally, recalling families who came with their children to accept food and hygiene supplies.
For Sheila, one of the hardest things to witness was when individuals “nodded out” or became “stuck” right in front of her. “Watching people lose control of their bodies and stand bent over because of drug use is heartbreaking. They’re so vulnerable, and I just want to help.”
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who donated hygiene supplies, enabling us to serve the people of Kensington. If you’d like to support our continued efforts to help the homeless in Kensington, please consider visiting our Amazon list to purchase supplies. Donations toward our next trip to Kensington are also appreciated and can be made via PayPal or Venmo @ninjallama.