Homeless Sleep Out/Feeding the Homeless - Submitted by Lynell Kennedy
Each January we host a Homeless Sleep Out. The idea is to foster a little empathy for the homeless of Houston. Each youth is allowed to bring a sleeping bag, a large box to sleep in (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) and the clothes on their back. No pillows, Ipods, MP3’s, Discmans, portable DVD players – you get the picture. This has proven to be an unforgettable experience for the youth that attend.
We do this in conjunction with feeding the homeless at St. John’s UMC the next morning. We spend part of the evening in small group sessions and ask that they bring the following items for the Daybreak Ministry at St. Johns:
bath towels (slightly used or new); a package of men’s clean white socks, some travel sized toiletries like the ones you get at nice hotels; toothbrush and toothpaste (travel size); laundry detergent (full size).
The following are promotional articles that we put in our newsletter and the church wide Messenger:
BOXES NEEDED FOR OUR “HOMELESS”
PARENTS: We need large boxes for our “homeless” to sleep in on January 7th. If you have any large boxes, please bring them to the Family Life Center. This will be our kids’ only shelter for that night out, so ask around. Last year we got some from a family who just moved into our neighborhood!
BREAKFAST AT ST. JOHN’S UMC
Even if you do not attend the Homeless Overnight, you can still help serve breakfast to the people at St. John’s UMC. Just be in the Family Life Center at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 8th and bring some money for a McDonalds stop on the way home. We will have you back to MDUMC by Noon.
DAYBREAK HOUSE
St. John’s UMC operates a really awesome place called Daybreak House. At Daybreak House, the homeless can come and receive minor medical services (donated by the doctors at St. Joseph’s Hospital), and take a shower while their clothes are being washed and dried. They are always in need of: clean used bath towels; sample sizes of soap, shampoo, shaving cream, toothpaste, toothbrushes, lotion, deodorant, etc.; clean white socks; and laundry detergent. If you can supply any of these articles, please bring them to Lynell’s office in the Family Life Center by Friday, January 7th. We will deliver them to St. John’s when we go to serve breakfast on the 8th.
