A little over a week ago, Chloe participated in helping the homeless of Charlotte, NC. In partnership with our church, Lake Forest Huntersville and Watchmen of the Streets, she passed out tents, tarps, jackets, blankets, shoes, toiletries, clothes, and much more. She also served the homeless food and got to hang out and have conversations with them. Did you know that many homeless are not in this situation due to drugs and alcohol? Like many in America who are one paycheck or one bad medical report away from being in the streets, many of our nation’s homeless that Chloe got to meet were for reasons such as these.

Take for example a man living under a bridge who served the US Military and told Chloe that due to a birth defect in his back that left him unable to work. Without family around and unable to work, he could not afford the medical treatment that could help him live a better life.

The warehouse that Chloe and the rest of her peers camped in for the night also got a few touch-ups in the form of painting and cleaning.

What Can You Do?

While not every beggar and homeless person we meet on the street corner is begging for pure intentions, we can’t argue that homelessness is a real situation in our country. Partnering with organizations such as the Watchmen of the Streets, local food and clothing pantries, and shelters is a great way to ensure that those who are on the frontline and really understand the situation can help in the most impactful ways. We also need to remember that if we give a dollar to someone on the corner, they may go buy drugs or alcohol, but it may also be the dollar that may buy them enough food to not go hungry that night. If you have it to give, I encourage you to try and donate your time and/or resources in helping giving a step-up to those in need.