Dimitri Brown has yet to notice that his double chocolate chip frappuccino is leaking through a tiny crack on the side of the plastic cup onto his skinny black jeans. Perched confidently in the iron chair outside State St.’s Coffee Bean, he’s too fixated on the homeless man playing the guitar with only three strings.

Brown dedicates all of his spare time to the non-profit organization”To Write Love on Her Arms,” which helps people around the United States battle and overcome depression, addiction, and suicide.

The organization’s website states that the organization has helped thousands of teenagers and young adults around the world recover from depression and suicide. They have saved countless lives and “there is no greater feeling in the world than to know you have saved a life.” Brown said.

Brown is majoring in political science and psychology, but he also spends time raising money for the organization by performing with his punk band and selling the organization’s merchandise at their shows.

“Money is raised for medication and to send people to treatment facilities,” Brown said. “The street team members, like myself, do our best to reach out to the community and find those in need of our help.”

All of the proceeds from selling merchandise and donations go straight to others in need of help and treatment.

Brown first heard about the organization when he went to a small concert where he saw their merchandise booth.

“During an intermission, a man came on stage and started talking about how the organization is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide,” Brown said.

“Needless to say, I bought a t-shirt from their booth and fell in love.”

After watching one of his close friends struggle with depression, Brown said that he saw the hope that ‘To Write Love On Her Arms’ gives those in need.

“My best friend was suffering from extreme depression and she would dice her wrists on a daily basis. I didn’t know what to do or how to help her,” Brown said. “Once ‘To Write Love On Her Arms was in the picture, I was able to mend her broken world and showed her that her life was important and worth living just by being there for her 24/7. Helping her overcome her depression led me to realize so many other people out there could use my help.”

Brown spread the word about the helpful organization. He told his friends and started receiving text messages and e-mails from people in need.

“We volunteers dedicate our sweat and tears to this organization,” Brown said. “The organization has taught me that the world definitely does not revolve around me and I need to do my part to help others struggling.”

Brown also nurses young adults at City College back to their full potential in life. He speaks to them and tells them “everything hits rock bottom before it gets any better.”

“I really don’t know what I would do without Dimitri,” said a City College student. “There have been days where I felt useless and worthless and somehow Dimitri managed to make me feel loved and important just by spending the day with me,” the student said.

Brown is currently watching over a life and helping another City College student to overcome depression and suicidal tendencies.

“Tears and blood flowed down my wrist and dripped off the palm of my hand onto my granite counter. The sharp, silver steak knife I used was lying on the tile floor, blood leaking off the prickly, jagged edges,” the 19-year-old student said. “I was withering away up against my kitchen cabinet, until Dimitri answered my phone call. He saved my life that day.” Both students prefer to be anonymous due to their past, but The Channels knows their true identity.

“To Write Love On Her Arms is a ray of hope.” Brown insists. “We are a possibility or the shining light to anyone who feels trapped by darkness.”