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City churches offer comfort to homeless

Downtown Fredericksburg churches will have Thanksgiving service tonight; dedicate sleeping bags for homeless

By JESSICA ALLEN

Date published: 11/26/2003

Holding a sleeping bag during a recent sermon, the Rev. Larry Haun said, "This is someone's home this winter."

The pastor of Fredericksburg Baptist Church urged members to contribute at least $25 to purchase sleeping bags for the homeless.

His congregation and five other downtown churches not only met the goal of purchasing 400 zero-degree sleeping bags, but also had money left over to buy some tents and flashlights.

"I think it shows how the people in Fredericksburg do care about the people in need and help them in different ways," said the Rev. Kent Rahm, senior rector of Trinity Episcopal Church on College Avenue.

"But wouldn't it be great to find a place for them to live," he said.

The camping gear will be used by those who cannot, or will not, stay in the area's homeless shelter, the Thurman Brisben Center, or emergency cold-night center at the Salvation Army.

Local church leaders have been aiding the homeless for years and provided the area's first shelters. Last year, they formed the Save Our Shelter Coalition, which fought for a new site for the Brisben shelter, which must move from its Essex Street location.

The coalition, now known as the Micah Ecumenical Ministries, aims to assist those who don't have a place to call home.

Haun negotiated with Wal-Mart corporate office in September to buy the sleeping bags at $25 each.

Afterward, each minister returned to their church and asked members to donate money to buy them.

"Once we knew we could get it at $25, we ordered it before the cold weather not knowing if they would meet and exceed our expectations," Rahm said.

For the chronically homeless, a sleeping bag has a 30-day life expectancy. Rain, fire and theft are some of the reasons why the bags don't last long, Haun said.

Homeless who work hide their sleeping bags only to return later and find them missing. Others abandon their portable bedding because it's too heavy to carry when wet, he said.

The churches have the sleeping bags they purchased and are working on ways to distribute them.

During Micah's ecumenical Thanksgiving service tonight, ministers will dedicate the bags. The service begins at 7 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church at the corner of Princess Anne and George streets.

To reach JESSICA ALLEN: 540/368-5036 jiallen@freelancestar.com

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Date published: 11/26/2003