TikTok star Shirley Raines, known for bringing meals to people on Skid Row, dies at 58

Shirley Raines, a social media creator and nonprofit founder who dedicated her life to caring for people experiencing homelessness, has died, her organization Beauty 2 The Streetz said Wednesday.She was 58.Raines was known as “Ms.

Shirley,” to her more than 5 million TikTok followers and to the people who regularly lined up for the food, beauty treatments and hygiene supplies she brought to Los Angeles’ Skid Row and other homeless communities in California and Nevada.Raines’ life made an “immeasurable impact,” Beauty 2 The Streetz wrote on social media.“Through her tireless advocacy, deep compassion, and unwavering commitment, she used her powerful media platform to amplify the voices of those in need and to bring dignity, resources, and hope to some of the most underserved populations,” the organization said.Raines’ cause of death was not released, but the organization said it would share additional information when it is available.Raines had six children.One son died as a toddler — an experience that left her a “very broken woman,” Raines said in 2021 when she was named CNN’s Hero of the Year.“It’s important you know that broken people are still very much useful,” she said during the CNN award ceremony.That deep grief led her to begin helping the homeless.“I would rather have him back than anything in the world, but I am a mother without a son, and there are a lot of people in the street that are without a mother,” she said.

“And I feel like it’s a fair exchange — I’m here for them.” Get the perfect blend of news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.Please provide a valid email.

By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Never miss a story Raines began working with homeless communities in 2017.

On Monday, Raines posted a video shot from inside her car as she handed out lunches to a line of people standing outside her pa...