From my friend Jerry King…
Several years ago, one of Teka Childress’s outreach clients at BJC froze to death at a bus stop in the City, and Teka vowed that would not ever happen again on her watch. Out of that experience came the formation of Winter Outreach, a 100% volunteer effort to offer shelter on winter nights to the homeless community of the City.
Starting two years ago, Marty and I have played a small role in the WO team, and it’s been a humbling and privileged opportunity. We, along with some of our friends who have been in this with us, would like to share that experience with a larger group–stories from our own personal encounters as well as those from the literally hundreds of people who have reached out, shuttled, prepared food, served meals, and shared their company with our brothers and sisters who have been living on the streets.
One exchange I had recently: I was talking with one of the men at the shelter, in which the subject of age came up. The tone of the conversation was jocular, good-natured teasing, and I bet him in that spirit that I was way older than he was imagining. When I said I was 72, his jaw dropped and he said, “Do you know how many people I know who are 72? None. Nobody lives that long on the streets.”
Join Marty and me at our home
830 DeMun, 3rd floor
Clayton 63105
Saturday 22 February
Potluck begins at 6:00 p.m.
Sharing starts at 6:45
