Church congregation helps homeless during cold spell
The Upper Room Assembly opens doors, providing shelter and support amid freezing temperatures.
Nichole Braxton wasn't surprised there was such a need for homeless people in the community when her church, The Upper Room Assembly & Worship Center, opened its doors to help during the recent cold spell.
File
Nichole Braxton wasn't surprised there
was such a need for homeless people in the community when her church, The Upper Room Assembly & Worship Center, opened its doors to help during the recent cold spell.
"We don't do enough for our homeless as
a community," she said. "We didn't know there were so many. They hide very well because they have to. There is such
a stereotypical thought process out there that the homeless are on drugs
or alcohol, and that is very much not true. We've met some pretty great people
struggling to make it on their own, and all they need is a little support."
When the Braxtons drove by people sleeping outside in this
cold weather, Nichole said to her husband Stan, "We have to help them. We have
that big building."
Nichole Braxton said, "Now a lot of other
people are jumping on board. We have cots all around the room. When we first
came, all we had was a cement floor and sleeping bags. It was like, 'Where do we
sleep?' And we said, 'Just pick a spot.' The Red Cross donated some cots for
us to use, and that's when it started coming together and everything fell into
place.”
A community member came in to hook people
up with some important documents they would need, like birth certificates,
Social Security numbers, and getting them set up with food, medical assistance and
a medical card.
"We have helped some apply for jobs and look for apartments," Braxton said.
Hairdresser Debby Moore came to
offer free haircuts. Dr. Gwinn came to do complimentary checkups. The
Salvation Army has opened its doors to let people take showers so they can
clean up. They also helped with getting new underwear, clothes, socks and
gloves. They have brought food, cots,
sleeping bags and tents. The church also helps
people who are getting back on their feet with household items they
will need.
"We've had so much support from other churches in the
community. There are lots of individuals in the community that have a heart and
a passion for the homeless, but they just don't know how to help. We are hoping
that when they leave, they will have everything they need," Braxton said.
As a small church, their only fear was being
able to pay the electric and the gas.
"Everyone in the church had faith that God would
provide, and he has provided," Braxton said.
They are hoping donations will
continue to come in as needed.
"This isn't our building. This is God's
building, so we have to open it up, and we have a congregation that is very
supportive," Braxton said. "Do I think
Coshocton can sustain a homeless shelter? I think, yeah. People worry it will
make the property value go down, but that's not true. I've seen such a heart
and a passion in the community this week that has blown us away."
The church has about 10 volunteers on three different shifts, headed by Karen Eubanks. Coshocton's Progress Not Perfection Sober Living people are volunteering to help. There
has been such a big community support.
"One of the
guys was given a big plate of beef and noodles," Braxton said. "He said, 'I don't remember the
last time I've had a meal like this.' We've already seen there is a
huge need for the homeless people in our community. We have had people who have
been homeless for seven or eight years, and they have lived in Coshocton their entire
lives. I wish we could make a camp for them and keep it nice, a safe place
where they can go, where we could bring them a hot meal.
"They're so grateful.
We need to keep the food coming. That's the only thing, and monetary donations
are a big thing. We have to pay the bills. People can drop money off here or
through the link on our website. We couldn't do it on our own. When we
first started, it was just me and my husband. We even brought our kids here. The
first person that we helped get back on their feet and was able to find a job. He
was excited, and we were excited too."
When they first started,
people stopped by to leave things, and now they have food, a pile of socks and more.
"We're blessed," Braxton said. "It’s been a fun week.
We have a congregation that is very supportive. It's nice we have all these others getting on
board. But we have to keep paying the bills. We have faith that it will all
come in. We can't afford to go negative."
Anyone wanting to help can drop things off at the church
or donate through the link.
"That first person that we helped has job offers now and a
place to stay," Braxton said. "We have had no issues at all; everyone is so kind. One of the
guys that we helped said, 'I can't believe you want to help. I can't believe you
even care.' Even if you don't volunteer, come and hang out, play a board game,
spend some time, talk to people. They love to talk.
"We currently have nine
staying here. The other day when I came in, I could hear them snoring, and it
made me cry that they were able to rest, that we can give them a warm, safe place to stay. If people just need to come in and get warm, the door is open."
There are other resources in the community as well. Pastor
Starkey Lawrence of Shepherd's Christian Assembly on Main Street has a soup
lunch Mondays through Thursdays. The Salvation Army puts food out. The Nazarene
Church has had a meal.
"It would be nice to get the word out," Braxton said. "Coshocton needs to
do more. We had a family with nine kids who came in for a meal. We've
probably had about 50 who came in to get warm. We have got to do more."
Donation options include Cashapp $nicholebraxton689; Venmo
@stanbraxton; checks to P.O. Box 293, Coshocton, OH 43812; or dropping off the donation at the shelter, 803 Vine St., Coshocton. For more information call 740-610-0082.