Homeless Supplied With Socks, Tents as Snow Storm Approaches

[The Straight Story]

Homeless Supplied With Socks, Tents as Snow Storm Approaches

From clothes to food, Cavanaugh Baptist Church worked to help the homeless prepare for the winter weather.

Close to 200 people in need made it out to the intersection of North 6th and 255 in Fort Smith Monday. There, they were fed a hot meal and the opportunity to stock up on some essential items, like warm clothes, coats and food. Johnny Miller, the Children’s Pastor at Cavanaugh Baptist Church, said this time of year always means a little more for the volunteers.

“At Christmas, we like to make it special for them,” said Miller. “We’ve been collecting money and sleeping bags and tents and things like that to give them. We prepared a full sit down meal for them this time.”

“Oh it means a whole lot,” said Mark Stevens, a homeless man that made it out for the Christmas lunch. “They served some tremendous food down here. And thank God for Cavanaugh Baptist Church for coming down here and helping us out.”

http://5newsonline.com/2012/12/24/homeless-supplied-with-socks-tents-as-snow-storm-approaches/

[alarimer]

1. Tents? Really? Churches are empty 6 days a week.

Why not house them there? It's out of the weather at least. Especially on an emergency basis, when a storm is threatening.

[dballance]

2. You'd be surprised

A lot of homeless people wish to remain independent so they might take a tent and go live in it when they would not think of living in that empty church. I do, however, think you are right and churches should open their doors to the people who would come stay in their buildings though. We give them a tax break on those so I feel they should make sure they're doing whatever they can with those tax-exempt properties to help others.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

3. Many homeless are scared to go into places with others.

There are many reasons why. Some see someone that has hurt them and won't go in due to fear of that person. Other will not go due to having a pet that is not allowed in with them. Some have misdemeanor warrants and are scared that they will get sent to jail. And then there are those that on the edge of what is know on the streets as being feral.

Feral people are the ones you will not see. They live like a wild animal. They will growl at you and they are only seen at night.
Those on the edge are very anti-social. One thing that helps to keep from going the edge for some are the pets that I mentioned earlier. I have seen 3 feral while on the streets. They are something of disbelief.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

4. Kick!