Having spent parts of her life homeless herself, Colorado Springs resident Jess Faulkner knows firsthand that a little bit can go a long way for the homeless population.

That's why she and her husband have gathered truckloads worth of goods to donate to the Pueblo Rescue Mission and those individuals who are staying at Pueblo's temporary homeless shelter at 901 W. Ninth St.

The Faulkners have collected close to 300 pounds of goods that they will be hauling to Pueblo and donating to the shelter today, Jess Faulkner said.

The items that will be given to the shelter include winter clothes such as coats and sweaters; men's clothes, women's clothes, shoes, socks, gloves and lots of personal hygiene products.

Jess Faulkner said a lot of the stuff that is being donated are things around the couple's home that they no longer need, and her husband put out a box at his place of employment for donations.

"We had an amazing response from the community," Faulkner said.

The donations are going to the Pueblo shelter, Faulkner said, because the Colorado Springs Rescue Mission is well-stocked.

"I have been following the news of the Pueblo warming shelter," Faulkner said. "Pueblo needs the resources."

Faulkner said she's been in the position of those who are without a place to live and staying at the shelter.

"I personally have dealt with homelessness and have lived in shelters for a large part of my life," Faulkner said. "From my experience I know a little bit goes a long way.

"It's really hard to come across solid resources. I know people lose a big sense of pride and humanity and part of this for me is also suicide awareness. Having somebody care just really makes a difference to people. I feel like people just kind of pass over and don't even look at homeless people anymore like they're not human also. Having someone show they care can help someone keep going."

Faulkner, now 28 years old, said she was last homeless when she was 25. She lives in a home with her husband now in Springs and says she's in a good position to be able to help out.

She said part of her goal is to spread awareness to the needs of the homeless community in hopes others decide to help out as well.

"My husband and I are two people but if big organizations can get involved or more people can get involved, I feel like so much more could be done," Faulkner said. "I'd like for people just to be aware that something, even a little bit of something, really helps."

rseverance@chieftain.com

Twitter: RyanS_Chieftain