So when a homeless man told Lester how difficult it was for people living on the streets to wash their hands to avoid catching or spreading the coronavirus, it was only natural for Lester to spring into action.
With those places closed down due to the pandemic, and with hand hygiene more important than ever, Lester decided the solution was to buy portable sinks and distribute them in public places where homeless people tend to gather.
The result was Love Sinks In, a campaign of Lester’s Atlanta-based nonprofit, Love Beyond Walls, which advocates for homeless and underserved populations.
The concept has been so well received that Lester has been recruited by homeless advocates in other cities to bring Love Sinks In to locations including Chicago, Dallas, and Austin; San Bernardino, California; Birmingham, Alabama; Columbus, Ohio; and various locations in New York, Nevada and Utah.
Lester, a father of two, has also written a book on the realities of homeless called “I See You: How Love Opens Our Eyes to Invisible People.”
