17/02/2026
Honoring another hero on black History month.
On January 27, 2026, Ms. Shirley Raines died at 58 years old. Her nonprofit confirmed her passing. Growing up in Compton, California, Ms. Shirley knew what it was like to struggle and face immense loss. While her 2-year-old son Demetrius was staying at her grandmother's house in 1990, he died from an accidental poisoning. She carried that grief for over a decade, and she would eventually find herself homeless on Skid Row in Los Angeles, California.
In 2017, Ms. Shirley joined her church group and handed out free meals to people on Skid Row. And while serving meals, she came face to face with people living on the same streets where she had once lived and felt hopeless. That is where she got the idea to start "Beauty 2 The Streetz," a nonprofit that provided meals, hygiene supplies, haircuts, and makeup to people many had forgotten about.
Ms. Shirley started posting videos of the interactions she had with the people on Skid Row, and pretty soon she had millions of followers who were deeply moved by the love and dignity she showed. She wasn’t just doing charity work. She was setting a powerful example of what it means to help others, especially those on the streets who often feel invisible. In her videos, she greeted everyone as "King" or "Queen," and it took a while to earn their trust. But every Saturday, Ms. Shirley would be right there with her cheerful smile and warm energy.
Many people in the country are one missed paycheck or one setback away from living on the streets. Showing kindness and compassion to others, just like Ms. Shirley did for all those years, is what reminds all of us what it truly means to be human.
(Photo: Ms. Shirley Raines / Beauty 2 The Streetz | E. Andrew Torgan)
