REENIE BREWER: GRAMMA’S HOUSE

A Place for Love, Shelter, Food and Support    

By Ilyse August

Where is it written that just because you’re born you are promised

 the rights to receive Love, Shelter, Food and Support?  In the same breath, how can we develop wholly and thrive without these imperative elements which are an omnipotent component of individual’s beginnings in life, and very well should be a given provision to each and every birth?!

In actuality, this question can be geared towards animals as well as to man.  Studies on gorillas have proven that when babies are not in close proximity to their momma and papa’s, stripped of their innate needs to be loved and cared for, it is proven that they grow up to be devoid of feelings for not only others, but devoid of feelings of self worth as well.  In addition to these individuals sad and melancholy states of mind, the sheer lack of support and love inevitably leads to a much deeper level of resentment; it leads to an anger that has potentially grown to such enormous heights that the unloved child, or adult, is now a detriment to society-  With a soul burning in powerful depths of fire too deep to even describe.  This cocktail of explosive emotions germinate, develop and fester into a powerful brew leading to a hatred, anger and resentment that  ultimately has the potential to result in a cataclysm of deranged acts of violence.  

My question is: what can we do to help these individuals who invariably suffer at the hands of the very people who brought them into this world?  HUMAN BEINGS who lead difficult lives during their most important development years, who are at the mercy of other human beings who are incapable of providing even the smallest amount of TLC…think about it….what can we do to help?  How can we allow ourselves to not only tolerate their deviant behaviors, but embrace these children…these young adults, with the love, care, support and attention that their ‘parents’ or said ‘caregivers’ could not afford them?  We cannot forget about those children as well who are so unfortunate to lose parents early in life facing so many challenges along the way as well.  Abuse presents itself in so many ways: neglect, physical, verbal and just straight up terrible parenting skills with consequences too numerous to comprehend for those who have not experienced and endured this type of childhood upbringing. 

It takes a mountain they say . . . OR DOES IT? SOMETIMES IT JUST TAKES A WOMAN! (Truth be told, many times it takes a woman!) Meet Reenie Brewer, the grandmother of Michael Brewer, the young man who at age 15 was lit on fire by ‘friends’ at his middle school in Deerfield Beach, FL.  The why, the how AND even the what all matter in this malicious crime- what led to this horrible activity is at the core of Reenie’s passion to change things in our society.    Michael Brewer managed not only to survive this heinous attack, but he has managed to rise above what has happened to him, and with his grandmother’s help, he is on a path to engage the exact types of individuals who brought so much damage to his psyche.  This attack on Michael Brewer represents the full embodiment of bullying, and yet Reenie Brewer KNOWS that it is our society who is at fault, who ultimately is the one to blame.  It is not necessarily the boys who let her down nearly as much as it is our breakdown in our society where one, if not more of these boys involved in this crime to her grandson Michael had an anger so intense, it was a festering of years of disappointments and injustices done to each boy that in effect mandated each would invoke harm on another at some point in their young lives.  Reenie wants to try and help those who live in this painful world.

Hate is truly inspired by anger.  Anger thrives from hate.  Not condoning their malicious act, Reenie’s philosophy moving forward on THE WHY her grandson was lit on fire is her focus.  With an intense passion Reenie vehemently wishes to help whomever crosses her path- any child who is in need of a happy place to go to for peace, comfort, food, shelter and above all else, …..LOVE.  LOVE is the one entity that can make or break a person, and Reenie Brewer wants to help children who are in desperate need of a friend and a person to show them love and care. 

GRAMMAS HOUSE is a concept Reenie Brewer is bringing to life by incorporating a new nonprofit dedicated to offering GRAMMAS HOUSE as a place where kids feel welcomed and safe.  Shelter, healthy food, family atmosphere, kitchen activities, laundry, a clothing trade room, counseling, babysitting, daily exercise, LIVING lessons, including, but not limited to: cooking, housework, laundry, shopping, banking, childcare,) will be offered.  This will be a drug free environment and minors who come to GRAMMAS HOUSE under the influence of illegal substances, will be de-toxed prior to receiving any help from GRAMMAS HOUSE.  Certainly care and follow through will be a focus on this front.  GRAMMAS HOUSE will work closely with several other organizations that are likeminded and interested in the future of our children.  Great effort will go into combining all the resources that are already available, that unfortunately too few are aware of.

Above Video…Reenie Brewer – Stepping Up, Speaking Out to Help Stop Childhood Bullying 

Reenie Brewer’s hope for GRAMMAS HOUSE is to rent a home in the Royal Palm Beach, FL area and provide temporary beds with long term attention.  She is currently in the process of acquiring a 501c3, so that companies and individuals may be ‘credited’ with their kind donations.  GRAMMAS HOUSE is in urgent need of sponsors as well.  There are operating costs as well as many start-up/set-up costs.  Some of these include rent, utilities, phone, internet, furnishings and small appliances, linens, insurance, household supplies, food, vehicle transportation/gas, and salaries.

Benefactors and government grants are needed.    Reenie says that this is also a way to provide some jobs in our struggling economy.  Here are Reenie’s words:  “My grandson was set on fire in 2009 by his schoolmates, and he survived by the grace of God and family. I believe that the young men who hurt him were a direct result of a society that does not listen when a cry for help is made. Be sure the boys who were capable of this horrific crime had been crying to deaf ears for attention. That kind of anger is not immediate; it simmers for a long while, and then explodes. We need to care more and do more to make our community a kinder safer place.”

To any of you out there who would like to help the GRAMMAS HOUSE initiative, please get in touch with Reenie @:   Reenie.brewer91@gmail.com.  She can be reached also via telephone: 561-727-6001.