Last night was cold. It will be cold again tonight. Our church basement is warm.
Last night about 20 unhoused folks gathered in our church basement. They ate donated Donatos pizza before spreading out bedrolls on the floors of Rooms 1 and 2. Several others parked their cars in our lot, keeping their engines running throughout the night as they caught some sleep. This morning they had breakfast and headed out to warming centers in other parts of the city, or to work. They’ll be at our church again tonight and then back in their encampments as overnight temperatures go back above freezing over the weekend.
This is a partnership. Heather Fitzgerald and her team at Goldheart Outreach are providing the leadership and legwork, in conversation with the Community Shelter Board. We first got to know Heather last winter right before a stretch of bitterly cold weather. She was seeing needs beyond what the shelters were providing and was eager to find a warm overnight space for the most vulnerable folks she knew. We were able to offer the basement rooms.
This winter we’ll stay in conversation with Heather and Goldheart, offering space as we’re able on freezing nights. Cindy Fath is currently serving as the CMC liaison. Goldheart is always in search of financial support, which goes directly to unhoused folks. Primary uses for funds are buying bus passes so folks can shuttle between warming centers, gas money for those living out of their cars, and food purchases. If you’d like to donate, cash can be given through CashApp or Zelle using the phone number 614-962-4323 or through Venmo @Goldheartoutreach
This is happening as our congregation is discerning another area of hospitality – how to respond to the incoming administration’s pledge to aggressively deport immigrants. On Monday about 50 of us met in the sanctuary and over Zoom to review past involvement with sanctuary work, get an overview of the current legal landscape, and hear about recent conversations faith leaders are having within our conference and local community. Just yesterday NBC broke a story about the new administration planning to do away with current restrictions around churches, hospitals and schools as protected areas where ICE (Immigration Customs Enforcement) will not enter.
How to be a community of warmth in a chilling landscape? How to love our neighbors? These are open-ended questions we’ll be considering, and enacting, over the next while.
As a spiritual anchor, I appreciate the opening and closing stanzas of our Membership Commitment Statement:
The Spirit calls us from where we are
to walk with Jesus
toward a more just, peaceful, and merciful embodiment
of God’s love in this world……..
By God’s grace, may we be a sanctuary,
where we welcome, protect, and challenge one another.
Joel
