Photos: Derrick Green's mission to help the homeless

ExpandAutoplay

Image 1 of 5

Linzi Hargraves, Meredith Manning, Kyle McNiel and Mabel, and Derrick Green canvass the neighborhood off of Northern Lights and Latouché streets to gather donations and talent on Wednesday, November 11, 2015. Greene is planning a "pop up feed the homeless" on Nov. 21, a community potluck with entertainers, and where he hopes he can hand out donations to homeless folks.

After serving in the military for 17 years, Derrick Green left his full-time position at the Alaska National Guard this October with plans to make community service his life. As he put it, he wanted to "stop talking, start walking."

That statement -- which has become the name and slogan of Green's open-ended campaign -- encapsulates his views on helping others. Action, he says, is more important than discussion.

Green, 34, isn't sure exactly where he or his campaign will end up. He doesn't know what form his passion will take over the long term, or how he'll make a living from his work.

But he did know where he wanted to start.

His first idea was simple: For 22 days, walk through Anchorage neighborhoods as a symbol of the oft-cited but questionable figure that 22 veterans kill themselves every day in the U.S.

Read more: Alaska National Guard vet sets out on solo community service campaign