Nowhere to call home
02-18-2009By Jessica Szenher
Special to the Arkansas United Methodist
“It’s mighty cold out here.”
“Give him some juice.”
“I like that juice. God bless you, Buddy.”
“Want more to eat? Have some dessert.”
“How cold is it tonight? I heard them say 12 degrees. Is that right?”
“Do you need gloves? I have some in the back of the car. Here, these will fit you. Do you need shoes?”
“We have more takers. Back to work.”
Steam rising off the serving tables greeted the homeless men and women who came to eat a hot, home cooked meal served by the members of Western Hills United Methodist Church of Little Rock on Jan. 6, one of the coldest nights of the year, as a part of the Building Bridges Ministry. Western Hills members have been greeting, feeding and getting to know the homeless in this same spot on the Little Rock side of the Broadway Bridge for five years.
Bill Barnett got interested in what his church calls “Under the Bridge” when his son and a friend spent the night with the homeless. Barnett wanted to help with serving meals on Tuesday nights, then determined that his church could be a part of the ministry.
Today Western Hills UMC, which has about 260 members, provides meals every first Tuesday and fourth Thursday of each month. Members and friends of the church cook the food at their homes and meet at the church. They travel to the bridge and spend from 6-7:30 p.m. with the homeless setting up tables and serving food cafeteria style.
“In the past year, we fed 838 people,” said Barnett. With many coming back for seconds and with goodie bags of food being distributed for later use, Barnett estimates the congregation served well over 2,000 meals in 2008.
Ernest Robinson of Little Rock takes advantage of the meals regularly. “These people are God sends for us,” he said “They are angels who help us in a bad situation. It is very cold tonight. I don’t know how we’d survive without them. It is all good, really filling.”
A homeless woman who chose to identify herself only as Penelope said, “I think it is great that they do it. Lots of places hand out food in the summer, but these people are here all year. It’s a blessing.”
“When we set up the portable tables, they come out immediately,” Marsha Hays said. “We get to know homeless people personally. We try to help them, persuade them to get shelter or medical referrals. We develop relationships so they can trust someone.”
While not a member at Western Hills UMC, Drew Boyles is a friend of the church. He participates regularly for one reason: “To serve the Lord,” he said “You see the Lord at work and you help Him. ‘I am the vine and you are the branches’, He said.”
Peggy Epperson has been serving “Under the Bridge” for all five years. “Some of us have been way too close to homelessness — they’ve been there themselves,” she said. She and her sons had the idea of making up goodie bags so that the homeless would have food for breakfast or lunch the next day.
Members who participate are from all age groups, including one who is over 90 years old. Barnett, recuperating from a recent knee surgery, has been unable to serve for the past month. But he is excited younger members of the congregation like Epperson and David Wilson have become involved.
“You know many of our churches are getting to be … more mature,” Barnett said. “I’m glad to see our younger members coming out and I am struck by the compassion they show here.”
Though 50 to 60 homeless people usually come for dinner, the night of Jan. 6 saw less than 10. Elizabeth Dowell, coordinator of Building Bridges, said there are not enough beds for indoor shelter for all of the homeless, but most stay with family or friends when it gets this cold or find a safe, warm spot somewhere.
“The people who come down here the ones that fall through the cracks of the programs set up to help the homeless,” Dowell said. “They don’t qualify for assistance. Most have burned bridges with family and friends. We don’t question anyone, just give them a meal.”
A total of seven local congregations representing various denominations serve the Building Bridges program.
Western Hills pastor Sylvia Nosic said volunteers try to provide other assistance as well as hot meals. At Christmas the congregation supplied 48 bags of clothing. “Jesus told us to feed the hungry and take care of people who need our help,” Nosic said. “This is just what the church is supposed to do.”
“God blesses us so that we can bless others,” Barnett said. “We show them God’s love. His Son showed us by words and actions that we are to be servants.”
