Humans in Melbourne Article with Anonymous X Founder, Sean Thornton.

When I first heard those words over a phone call I remember being amazed. Then I met the man who spoke them and heard his story and it all made sense. Sean Thornton is the founder of Anonymous X, an organisation in Melbourne that helps the homeless and less fortunate by providing life's essentials. If you speak to people who live on the streets it is very likely that they know and respect Sean. In my experience, Sean is who the homeless turn to most in times of need.  Ok, ready to be inspired?

Why did you start Anonymous X? 

Sean:
"A few years ago my cousin Jaye was found dead in a laundry. He had overdosed on heroine. We had grown up on the 'wrong side of the tracks' I guess and I had seen a lot when I was young. In my neighbourhood you didn't really think about finishing high school and getting into university, it's just not what happened. My mum had helped me a lot. With her guidance I had a steady job and was training to be a fireman. I had also bought a house and life seemed to be travelling along just fine.

I was very close to Jaye when we were kids but then as we grew older we had grown apart. My Uncle and Aunty had tried everything to help him but it hadn't worked. After hearing about Jaye I remember being so angry. I had wondered where his friends were? Who left him in the laundry? Why didn't they call an ambulance? My first instinct was to seek retribution but that would just be me continuing a vicious cycle. Jaye's funeral was tough.

I remember seeing all of my family crying and getting this overwhelming sense of loss and helplessness. I kept thinking that this could of so easily been me. Without my mum I am pretty sure I would have been either homeless or dead. Then it occurred to me what had to happen. Someone had to do something to help stop the cycle. I had to do something.”

SEAN (LEFT) WITH COUSIN JAYE (RIGHT)

“I started planning for a one night event when I would head out to the same neighbourhood where Jaye had died and I would hand out food and other essential items. I named my little venture, Anonymous X.

For months I told all my friends what I was doing and they donated clothes and food and other items.

I created a Facebook page and more and more donations came in! My mum let me use her house for storage and it was so full of bags!”

“So on Christmas Eve 2013 I went out to the neighbourhood (where Jaye had passed) with my mum. It was then she told me that the exact street where we were standing was where she had grown up... I knew then for sure that we were doing the right thing, that we could help break this cycle.

We had so many donations and I hoped we'd be met with open arms but when we got there the street was so empty. I started to get worried, then mum spotted a lady and her son on the playground and asked if they'd like something to eat. They came over first... Then a few more people came over and then all of a sudden there were people everywhere and we started handing out donations to everyone.

They were all so thankful and the smiles on everyone's faces were amazing. It felt so good to be able to help, especially on Christmas Eve. I had never felt such a natural high from anything else.”

“The next day I was very happy with how the night before had gone and we were all talking about it around the Christmas table. But, something wasn't right. I couldn't get this one lady out of my head. She had asked if she could take some tuna and bread for Christmas Day... Of course we'd said yes. So there I was happy with myself, belly full of food and that lady was going to eat tuna out of a can on Christmas day?

That night I told my mum that this was what I needed to do with my life. I had gotten such fulfillment from that one night that it had inspired me to change my life completely. She backed me 100% but asked the obvious question... 'How will you fund it?' I thought for a second and then responded,.. 'I'll sell my house'. So that's what I did. I sold my house to create Anonymous X."

"After I sold my house we moved the Anonymous X base from my mums lounge room to 3 storage containers that we hired. She was very pleased to get her house back! We quickly outgrew the storage containers and I rented a warehouse in Oakleigh. We were in there for a year. A lot of people were now volunteering and we built a great team. In this time I was out on the streets with my team building relationships with those we wanted to help.

A lot of people on the streets or in crisis accommodation don't trust any kind of authority. We had to let them know that we were there for them. I've spent many a night out, just sitting and listening, with people. For some of them that is more important than clothing and food. The opportunity to be heard. During that year we were also fighting to gain our DGR status. This means that any donations gifted to us could be claimed against someone's tax.

It was a long process but the moment we were granted that was such a great feeling. There had been times when I didn't know if it would happen and it is so important.”

“After a year at Oakleigh  my mum and I decided to buy a warehouse in Port Melbourne to give Anonymous X a proper home. She took her super out to help me with the deposit. We moved on to the warehouse earlier this year and we are still getting everything together but we've come so far…"

What do you want to achieve with Anonymous X?

"I want the blue X to signify something in Melbourne. When I hand out jackets and hoodies to the homeless I tell them that when they wear that, they are representing us. A lot of them have told me that when they see someone else wearing an X they will go out of their way to say hello to them. I want to bridge the gap between those who are less fortunate and those who are well off. I want to help as many people as need it without biased or agenda.

We do 'Promise Packs' for people who have just entered crisis accommodation. Instead of doing what a lot have down in the past which has been a one size fits all mentality, we give them a list and ask them their size and other preferences. We want them to know that they still matter and that they will be treated with dignity and respect whenever they deal with Anonymous X. I want to make sure that there are far fewer cases like Jaye..."

How is Anonymous X funded now? Surely the money from your house is gone?

"Yeah it is mostly. To be honest my mum has helped so much. I get so emotional thinking about Mum because I know without her this wouldn't still be possible. I have been hoping to get some government funding but that hasn't happened yet. I suppose because we are quite small people don't even know they can donate to us but they can.

Any donation no matter how big or small is so very welcome. We want to keep Anonymous X going for a long as possible and it's only possible with everyone's help."

If you could speak to Jaye one last time what would you tell him?

"Wow... That's a good question. I'd tell him that his death wasn't in vain. I'd tell him that his legacy is Anonymous X and that I'll work to make sure that it's a legacy that he can be proud of."

Article Link: https://www.facebook.com/page/826964877350082/search/?q=sean