Waching daily Mar 30 2017

DRIVING DOWN KINGS STREET IN

DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON, IT CAN BE

EASY TO FORGET THERE ARE PEOPLE

STRUGGLING THROUGH POVERTY,

JUST A FEW STREETS IN ANY

DIRECTION.

ASHLEY YOST BRINGS US ANOTHER

STORY OF HOW A COLLEGE OF

CHARLESTON GRADUATE IS MAKING A

DIFFERENCE.

THIS TIME IN HER ALMA MATER'S

BACKYARD.

REPORTER: FOR SAMANTHA, HER

MISSION STARTED WHEN SHE PAUSED

HER JOB THROUGH THE UPPER

PENINSULA, FOR A GAME OF

PICKUP.

PLAYING BASKETBALL WITH

KIDS, AND 2010, THAT TURNED

INTO ME JUST GOING WITH

EVERYONE, BRINGING MY FRIENDS,

CLASSMATES, NEIGHBORS AND

ROOMMATES.

REPORTER: THEN SHE DECIDED

TO SERVE FULL-TIME.

I DECIDED TO MOVE HERE IN

2012.

INSTEAD OF COMING TO CIRCUITS

ONCE A WEEK, WHICH CAN BE

CONDESCENDING AND HURTFUL, I

WANTED TO LIVE IN THE

COMMUNITY.

ANYONE WHO IS ANYONE CAME INTO

MY HOUSE FOR A MEAL AND BIBLE

STUDY.

HOMELESS VETERANS, RICH, POOR,

YOUNG, OLD.

REPORTER: BEFORE INTENDING

TO MAKE IN THIS UNORGANIZED

EFFORT.

PEOPLE JUST GIVING HER MONEY.

I NEEDED A PLACE TO PUT THAT

MONEY.

I GOOGLED HOW TO START A

NONPROFIT, WE BECAME

INCORPORATED IN 2014.

REPORTER: LOVING AMERICA

STREET WAS BORN.

WE ARE AT MALL PARK ON

FRIDAY, PLAYING WITH KIDS.

WE HAVE BIBLE STUDY ON

THURSDAY, WE LEAD A WALKING

GROUP ON MONDAYS.

A FREE ADULT COMPUTER CLASS ON

WEDNESDAY.

REPORTER: THE BIGGEST

MILESTONE, BUYING THE ONLY

LAUNDROMAT IN THE AREA.

IT WAS TOTALLY

DYSFUNCTIONAL.

TONS OF FOLKS ON THE EAST SIDE

THAT DO NOT HAVE WASHERS AND

DRYERS.

WE STARTED THE LEASE, THE

LANDLORD SAID,

O YOU KNOW HOW

TO RUN A LAUNDROMAT?

SAID,

O BUT GOD, IS MY DAD,

AND WE WILL DO THIS.

REPORTER: THEY RAISED

$50,000 IN 4 MONTHS.

THEY HAVE13 WASHERS AND 12

DRYERS.

AND THEY EMPLOYEE TO MEN FROM

THE COMMUNITY.

WE WERE ABLE TO EMPOWER

FOLKS WITH DIGNITY AND PRIDE.

REPORTER: SHE SAYS THIS IS

THE WHY BEHIND LOVING AMERICAN

HISTORY.

JESUS 100%.

REPORTER: SHE REALLY DOES

KNOW EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY.

RIGHT NOW SHE IS IN THE PROCESS

OF TEACHING HERSELF HOW TO

RIGHT A GRANT SO SHE CAN GET

MONEY THAT WAY, AS WELL.

-- IT IS OBVIOUS, EVERYONE IN

THE COMMUNITY KNOWS HER BY

NAME.

SHE KNOWS THEM BY NAME.

SHE IS NO STRANGER.

SHE IS DEFINITELY MAKING A

DIFFERENCE.

WHAT DO WE EXPECT TOMORROW?

IT IS GOING TO PUT YOU IN

THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT.

ALREADY?

ALREADY.

YES.

[LAUGHTER]

CHARLESTON HAS AN ORGANIZATION,

BRINGING CHRISTMAS PRESENTS TO