Watch above: U.S. veteran time-lapse transformation
Inspired by Dove’s “Evolution” ad campaign, the clip shows Jim Wolf sitting in a chair as he gets his beard trimmed, a new haircut and new clothes.
According to the video, Wolf has struggled with poverty, homelessness and alcoholism for decades.
In September 2013, he volunteered to go through a physical transformation for Degage Ministries, a non-profit organization that aims to transform the lives of homeless veterans “inside and out.”
At the 2:05 mark, Wolf becomes overwhelmed as he sees his reflection in the mirror.
“We all have an image of ourselves,” said Marge Palmerlee, executive director of Degage in an interview with The Blaze. “When he saw the difference, he just … felt very enlightened and uplifted. I could just tell the difference in Jim.”
BEFORE:
Since filming the video, Wolf has begun to attend Alcoholic Anonymous meetings for the first time and is scheduled to move into his own apartment.
AFTER:
Filmmaker Rob Bliss said he wanted to change the way people stereotype the homeless.
“If I can only get people to look at any homeless person on the street and see the mirror image of them — the image of someone who would look socially acceptable — realize that potential, that ‘what if,’ and root for their success,” said Bliss on his latest video creation.
On social media, while many users commented that while a physical transformation is not enough to help veterans in need of support, some argued it was a start.
“Transformation really happens on the inside,” said one YouTube user. “But sometimes it takes something dramatic on the outside to stimulate us to understand that the change needs to happen.”
Comments