Safer Outside Project

I'm still working on it, but I do have a website up and running at
https://saferoutsideproject.org/about/

As always, the best way to help at this point is to donate to the GoFundMe at https://www.gofundme.com/f/safer-outside-project-hydration-hygiene-packs and share.

Donate to Safer Outside Project: Hydration & Hygiene Packs, organized by Kelly Anderson I am starting the Safer Outside Project, a community initiative to pro… Kelly Anderson needs your support for Safer Outside Project: Hydration & Hygiene Packs

I am currently working on the website, which I will publish here once it is live.

Until then, please consider a donation to our GoFundMe:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/safer-outside-project-hydration-hygiene-packs

Any amount helps! Without the money raised so far, I would not have been able to put the website together. While the website helps, the real goal is to distribute kits to those in need.

Donate to Safer Outside Project: Hydration & Hygiene Packs, organized by Kelly Anderson I am starting the Safer Outside Project, a community initiative to pro… Kelly Anderson needs your support for Safer Outside Project: Hydration & Hygiene Packs

It has been a while since I have been able to give this project the attention it deserves; it gets that way during the Summer, with kids at home, and right now I am the only one working on this.

But, I am thrilled to announce that the Safer Outside Project GoFundMe has gotten a $500 donation from the platform's charitable arm, Essentials Fund!

While I am still only at a little over 10% of my fundraising goal of $7,000, this is a great start for a one-person project. I will be building a website this week, and buying some items for the packs.

Donate to Safer Outside Project: Hydration & Hygiene Packs, organized by Kelly Anderson I am starting the Safer Outside Project, a community initiative to pro… Kelly Anderson needs your support for Safer Outside Project: Hydration & Hygiene Packs

A few people have asked me why I think it's important to distribute water purification tablets because "people don't really drink the creek water."

I understand that it's not common for people to drink the water from the creek. I would never advise someone TO drink from the creek if they had any other option.

But, first of all, I have seen people wash their bodies in the creek. If I could convince even a few of those who are washing in the creek, to wash with treated water instead, I would feel like the purification tablets were worth it because they would be at a considerably lower risk of water-borne illness.

Additionally, Texas summers are brutal. Dehydration can become an emergency very quickly, and in an emergent situation, if the options are to drink untreated creek water, treated creek water, or nothing, treated creek water IS the best of all available options.

If I consistently hear from people that they're not using the purification tablets, I will absolutely replace them with something more useful. There's always flexibility based on real-world needs.

Please consider donating. We have gotten three donations so far!

https://www.gofundme.com/f/safer-outside-project-hydration-hygiene-packs?lid=4tm7sxkzoj6q

Donate to Safer Outside Project: Hydration & Hygiene Packs, organized by Kelly Anderson I am starting the Safer Outside Project, a community initiative to pro… Kelly Anderson needs your support for Safer Outside Project: Hydration & Hygiene Packs

We received our first donation today!

I also found electrolyte tablets that are priced reasonably enough to include in the packs! This should considerably improve the efficacy of the project!

Donate to our GoFundMe:

Donate to Safer Outside Project: Hydration & Hygiene Packs, organized by Kelly Anderson I am starting the Safer Outside Project, a community initiative to pro… Kelly Anderson needs your support for Safer Outside Project: Hydration & Hygiene Packs

My name is Kelly Anderson. I'm a married mom of three little girls. In December of 2025, I completed my MBA at Texas Woman's University.

But a lifetime ago, I was homeless. I have been extremely fortunate to have a loving, supportive family that was able to help me get back on my feet.

Not everyone has that luxury, and living outdoors is dangerous. My aim with this project is to make it safer.

In May, my husband's grandmother passed away after a battle with lung cancer. She was a wonderful, inspiring person. We attended her Celebration of Life. The minister who conducted the Celebration of Life spoke extensively about her community work, including homeless outreach. This got me thinking about ways I could help.

I thought about my own past, and what I may have found beneficial. I struggled with hydration and staying clean. There were organizations that provided meals, bottles of water, and showers. Others provided toiletries. I also thought about what I have witnessed, including unhoused people bathing in White Rock Creek, and trash left behind by encampments.

Washing with untreated creek water opens our unhoused neighbors up to potentially harmful bacteria. Texas summers are hot. Water bottles, while extremely helpful, are heavy and produce trash. Sometimes, these neighbors have access to water they receive at restaurants, and those cups also produce trash when brought back to encampments. What if there was a way to provide them with reusable, collapsible water bottles to use instead of bringing the cups back with them, and water purification tablets to treat creek water for washing (and in emergency situations, when clean water to drink can't be accessed)?

Many people don't have a towel, and traditional towels are slow to dry. The longer the dry time, the more potential there is for bacterial growth. Not to mention, the lack of access to laundry facilities. What if I could provide quick-dry towels?

Traditional shampoos, body washes, and detergents are not biodegradable. Camp soap isn't perfect, but it's multipurpose, which means fewer items to carry. It is biodegradable, so there's less contamination of creek water.

All of these items will produce trash, so along with the items I distribute, I will also provide a contact card so I can be reached to trade in used supplies for unused supplies.

No outreach program is perfect. But my intention is to provide our unhoused neighbors with supplies that will enable them to live safer outside, while reducing contamination of our environment.

It would be helpful if you could like this page, and share the GoFundMe.

Together, we can make an impact.

Donate to Safer Outside Project: Hydration & Hygiene Packs, organized by Kelly Anderson I am starting the Safer Outside Project, a community initiative to pro… Kelly Anderson needs your support for Safer Outside Project: Hydration & Hygiene Packs

I've started a GoFundMe in order to reach my initial funding goal for Safer Outside Project.

Please consider donating!

Donate to Safer Outside Project: Hydration & Hygiene Packs, organized by Kelly Anderson I am starting the Safer Outside Project, a community initiative to pro… Kelly Anderson needs your support for Safer Outside Project: Hydration & Hygiene Packs