There is a gnawing problem in our great nation: homelessness. According to Urban Ministry statistics, 610,042 homeless people – including 11,448 people in North Carolina – are living in cars, the woods, abandoned buildings or under bridges. With the chill of winter approaching, how can we sit back in our recliners, sipping coffee or hot cocoa in our comfortable homes, while our brothers and sisters are suffering outside?
We can close our eyes to this urgent need and pretend it doesn’t exist. We can say it’s their fault because they are living in sin with addictions to drugs or alcohol. We can leave it up to our government, the police or someone else because we don’t want to be bothered. But will these excuses hold up when we go to our final judgment?
Jesus said in Matthew 25:31-41: “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit upon His glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before Him. And He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. Then the king will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’”
Let me tell you the story of a young man who went off to fight for his country. At 17, he put on a military uniform, was handed a loaded rifle, and was prepared for battle. Before he left the States, he married his sweetheart. During the course of his service, he suffered minor injuries but the trauma of war scarred him for life. After coming home, the young man didn’t look physically different but the disturbing scenes of combat kept replaying in his subconscious. Coupled with a troubled childhood, this young man was psychological impaired. Ten years later, he was a chronic alcoholic, divorced and unable to care for himself. Forfeiting his role as husband and father, he became a statistic – dying homeless on the streets of Miami from a common cold in 1989.
Volunteering one Saturday a month for Open Door Homeless Ministry in Hickory, I see similar stories from the 100-200 men and women who come through the line to get the bare necessities of life. These hungry souls are hoping to survive one more day. Some temporarily reside at the Salvation Army. Others have shelter but are extremely poor. Most of those who attend this program are tucked away living in the woods, hiding from a society that pretends they don’t exist.
Now in its ninth year, Open Door Homeless Ministry was launched by Roger Cornett, a sincere Christian man who works endless hours serving these people for whom society has no place. He is not paid for his work. Cornett’s family supports his mission by contributing and working the program – including his sister, Donna Austin, who supplies toiletries and other essentials for the campers. They solicit donations from many sources: individuals, churches and businesses.
Open Door Homeless Ministry gives out clothing, underwear, socks, sneakers, coats, batteries, flashlights, candles, reading glasses, over-the-counter medicines, toiletries, linens, tents, potties, sleeping bags, bug spray in the summer, blankets in the winter, and so much more.
With the cold weather approaching, help by donating or volunteering what you can to your parish or to the Diocesan Support Appeal, which in turn funds local efforts that provide housing and help to those who have nothing.
Six years ago, my heart was touched when I heard about Open Door Homeless Ministry. Why did I agree to donate and volunteer? Because of gratitude for the caring people in Miami who for years had tried to care for my father, that homeless World War II veteran.
Bobby Speers is an author who lives in Hickory.