Local agencies help keep homeless warm during cold weather

“There are a lot of people that are homeless in Macon,” said Loaves & Fishes Day Services Coordinator Judy Sexton. “We have clients that sleep outside, that sleep in abandoned buildings, and abandoned homes or in their cars.”

People lined up to get scarves, hats, gloves, and blankets at Loaves & Fishes Ministry in Macon. The ministry’s goal is to improve the lives of homeless people in Middle Georgia. Loaves and Fishes has served the community for nearly 50 years. It has provided services to more than 40,000 people annually, according to Sexton.

“We also have a group of people who move from place to place to place living with family and friends,” added Sexton. “They are also considered homeless because at anytime they could be without a place to go.”

Loaves & Fishes is a day center ministry. In the evening, it refers people to the Salvation Army because the center is not equipped with beds.

“If we have someone that we know is sleeping outside and just will not go to the Salvation Army, we keep army disaster blankets,” she continued. “But they’re scratchy so we always give them a soft blanket too.”

“I live in a house, I don’t have utilities now, but I come here to Loaves & Fishes to wash clothes,” said Nancy Ann Campbell. “They provide groceries, scarf, hats, gloves, snacks and personal items.”

“I’m trying to get my I.D. made,” said Ocie Lewis. “So I can get my bed at Salvation Army. I’m sleeping on the floor now on a mat, but I’m making it, the good Lord is working it out for me.”

The Salvation Army’s Communication Director, Terri Marion, says when the temperature drops, like it did Tuesday night, both of the men and women’s shelters are completely full.

“We are welcoming anyone and everyone that needs a warm place to stay for the night,” said Marion.

The Salvation Army is also housing residents who are without heat, according to Marion.

“We’re the only shelter in the region and if we weren’t here, people would have no where else to go,” she added.