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JACKSON — Kevin Ward, director of missions for the Madison-Chester Crockett Association of Baptists, issued a call to Baptist churches to work together with the City of Jackson to provide warming shelters for our homeless population in response to Winter Storm Fern and other severe weather conditions.
Between 300 and 1,000 people are homeless each night in this area. Warming shelters were provided January 25-27 at First Methodist Church in downtown Jackson for women and children.
Men and children will be sheltered at the T. R. White Sportsplex. These temporary warming shelters offer protection from the harsh weather and make sure no one is left outside in this extreme cold.
Cots and blankets were provided by Madison County Emergency Management. The Jackson Police Department had an officer on-site for safety.
This urgent community need asks for church volunteers to provide food, personal hygiene kits, and blankets. Volunteers were asked to serve in 4-hour shifts. A training session was held prior to the cold weather for those willing to serve.
The Association requested that meals and snack bags be made for 20 people. Churches and individuals would be contacted on the day the meal was being planned. Delivery was requested, but if conditions make this impossible, a source was provided.
To facilitate this emergency volunteer program, the Association emailed a form to Baptist churches and individual contacts. This included the name or organization, phone or email address, type of donation as a meal or snack, and the four-hour shift available for volunteering.
Baptist churches have always been a group that meets the needs of the people. This was one of those times. Jesus commands us in Matthew 25: 35-40 to feed the hungry and to care for those in need. — Compiled by Carolyn Tomlin, B&R contributing writer
