It’s been a winter that I had thought was long forgotten. I can’t recall a time of such endured cold and snow since the late 70’s. Things were a little different then. I saw life through the eyes of someone who’d not quite turned 10 yet. Snow days….super big drifts…..sliding down hills and more made childhood fun. Well, in the eyes of a 50 something…..it sure look different. Yes the innocence of kids should absolutely be protected, but the realities of the hungry…the homeless and the forgotten really get magnified. Some people see the same thing….and they get to work on it.
The Giving Table began with the idea of adding to another human need organizations help. They set up a table with some clothing and personal care items at a community meal and saw the need multiply right there, on the spot. The need for warmth, comfort, something clean and products to wash with and take care of personal hygiene. Day one done. As with any good deed, the need was seen and done again by Andrea Gagnon. We’ll get right to it from here. It turned into a flood of giving and redistributing. Then along came old man winter. And how.
With the arctic air, heavy snow and the number of those without a home in Muskegon, we had an emergency on our hands. The normal shelters were full. The places to put people to prevent freezing to death are limited and action needed to be taken quickly. Now, as you’ll hear in our video, Andrea never saw herself as a “Pop Up” homeless shelter manager, but 9-10 days ago she became just that with the help of the Covenant Community Church R.C.A. in Muskegon Heights. Covenant has a very simple creed. ” In the city ‘as one who serves’……affirming and welcoming all as Jesus with doors and hearts open wide joining together ‘to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.’ It’s time to walk the walk instead of talking about it. A quick conversation with the churches leadership and the doors were opened to be an emergency shelter overnight for those with no where to go.
It’s been 9 days. During the day, the people are in other agencies to stay warm. Samaritan Way has been instrumental in helping transport people to and from. 7p-7a there’s food in the church. There’s community and there’s safety. No, we’re not talking Sheraton quality, but clothing, personal care, food, snacks, clean water, bathrooms and more are all there. “Pastor Lisa” joins us in the conversation to share how the church got involved and with her being here only 14 months in Muskegon….her revelation about our community is really something to hear. It’s really the message we all forget in the day to day of life here…and she’s 100% correct on every level.
This isn’t a forever thing. There will come a time when people have to return to the street. What’s important is the awareness of the problem here in Muskegon coming to light and all that can getting in on the battle to try and find a solution. No, there’s not one fix, but…we are like no other community anywhere. We do more with less and we know how to meet need with extremely limited resources. Gears are moving to help in the future so this can be not as impactful in the future. It takes the drive and passion of people like Andrea, supported by others who realize that if all of us give a little….it makes it much easier. We live in a town of miracles. One is unfolding right before your eyes at The Giving Table and the Covenant Community Church. CLICK HERE TO VOLUENTEER. CLICK HERE FOR THE FAQ PAGE.
