Meet Diamond Haynes

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Diamond Haynes. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Diamond , thank you so much for joining us and offering your lessons and wisdom for our readers. One of the things we most admire about you is your generosity and so we’d love if you could talk to us about where you think your generosity comes from.

Well, I’ve always been a giver. As an only child, that’s pretty out of the ordinary but as I got older I understood the humility that comes with giving. Especially to those who are in circumstances that might be beyond their control. Throughout the years I’ve given to those in need here and there when I would be driving or out in the community. Now, I seek out people to give to including the homeless community and those experiencing a life in poverty.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

My name is Diamond Haynes and I have a nonprofit named Forever Giving that focuses on serving the homeless community in my city. That is one of my main focuses right now outside of my full time job. I’m interested in serving other homeless communities in different cities and states once I’ve built a solid foundation here. My heart truly is with the people who are often underserved and overlooked. Every time I go out to serve, it’s such an emotional experience because I couldn’t imagine being in their shoes. I often feel joyous in giving, especially when the people remember me and they express their gratitude. It’s important for me to provide the community with love, choices, and humility. I strive to give socks, sneakers, and bus tickets but often I give more than that, thinking about what’s needed while living on the street, house to house, or in shelters.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, I can say the top quality that was most impactful in my journey was being compassionate. Also, being personable and sincere impacted my journey and how I’m able to serve people. My advice would be to do your research in the area you’d like to service and just do it. This desire was placed in my heart ten years ago and in 2022, I had the courage to push through and go for it. Remain confident in the fact that you are meant to do the things God has called you to do, no matter how many people are in that field. Nobody can do what you can do, in the way that you’ll do it. Also, have good accountability partners around you. This journey is not easy and encouragement is needed!

If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?

The challenge that I’m currently facing is having consistent donors. That makes it hard to stay motivated sometimes but I know that I have to remain steadfast.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @forevergiving_
• Other: https://donorbox.org/help-our-neighbors