Despite his van breaking down twice and running out of food and gas on more than one occasion, Aaron Heideman is determined to pass on his message.

The 29-year-old visited Ann Arbor Saturday on his cross-country trip asking people one simple question: How has the recession affected you?

“This is a great need for us as a country to listen to each other and have empathy,” he said. “I think if we can start understanding each other and listening without judgment, I think that will help us as a city to get out of the recession.”

Equipped with only his bright orange van and a few Sharpies, Heideman has been asking Americans throughout more than 25 states to write their stories on his van and share them with the rest of the country. He calls it The Man In The Van Project.

When he finishes at the end of the month, Heideman will enter his van in the Grand Rapids ArtPrize contest.

“It’s a way for people to connect to each other and feel empathy for other people,” he said. “It’s about listening.”

Heideman, originally from Oregon, knows first-hand how tough the recession can be. After being laid off from his job as a framer and then again while working in a paint store, Heideman went on unemployment and continued to look for work. He eventually began living out of his van when he could no longer afford to pay rent.

After struggling to write a screenplay about his life and being affected by the recession, Heideman decided he needed to focus on someone other than himself.

“I got to a breaking point where I needed to do something completely different and crazy,” he said. “I wanted to do something outside the box.”

With that, Heideman sold his possessions, purchased an orange van and took off across the country with only $300 to his name.

“I said regardless of whether I have the money or not, I’m just going to do it,” he said.

Two months later, Heideman has traveled throughout the west, south and east coasts of the United States along a route of places that have been the hardest hit by the recession. Though he has not yet had to ask for help, he said people have been supportive and generous throughout the country.

“I haven’t had to ask for money, but people give it to me to help me on my way,” he said.

As he makes his final stops in Michigan, Heideman said he is eager to see the differences between the west and southeast sides of the state.

As he stood on the corner of South University and South Forest streets amidst crowds of excited Michigan football fans, Heideman said he was surprised by the number of people in Ann Arbor who passed by saying they had not been affected by the recession. Those that did stop by to write their stories, however, had plenty to say.

“My dad lost his job and foreclosed on his house—the house I lived in for 24 years,” wrote one person.

“The recession has taught me to seek out the moments in life that are beautiful and true…independent of currency,” wrote another.

One woman, Chyanne Garvie, was particularly touched by the project.

The Ann Arbor resident was laid off from her job and is struggling to find a new one. She says she’s been homeless on and off the last couple of years.

“I absolutely think this is an awesome project,” she said. “It’s nice to know there’s more people than myself going through the recession and the same thing I am.”

With more than 5,000 stories collected so far, Heideman’s story is nearing the end, but not yet finished. He said he plans to head to Detroit next and then visit Flint and Saginaw before heading to Grand Rapids to enter the contest. If he wins the $250,000 grand prize, Heideman said he will make an announcement on Oct. 8 about how he plans to spend the money. If he doesn’t, he said he is not yet sure what his plans are.

“This isn’t about winning or losing,” he said. “This is about listening to people and having empathy and delivering a message of compassion.”