THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 3, 1995 TAG: 9509010182
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Ida Kay's Portsmouth
SOURCE: Ida Kay Jordan
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you invited me in; naked, and you clothed me. . . '' - Matthew 25:35
Everybody who grew up in a Protestant church knows well the word of the Gospels on the hungry and the homeless.
And, there is no religion that does not encompass the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
So there is ample precedent for local churches to respond to the call of Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless.
The volunteers run the program that provides shelter in Downtown church facilities for people with no place to go when winter nights grow cold. Between Nov. 21, 1994, and March 15, 1995, 231 individuals took advantage of the program, which provides not only a warm bed but a warm meal.
About 20 churches participated last winter. That's a small number compared to 200 or more congregations in the city.
As in most volunteer projects, the bulk of the work always falls on a faithful few. However, with so many congregations abounding in Portsmouth, the work would become less burdensome if a few more churches and other organizations joined in. After all, it would only take a few members from each group to add up to a major contribution.
The way the program functions any church or other organization can provide service hours only or money for food or the food itself - or it can provide all of these.
Of course, a person does not have to be affiliated with any religious organization to join up with the Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless. Many individuals come on their own or they belong to other groups. Last year, members of the crew of the Coast Guard cutter Bear participated.
It's a good feeling to live in a town where somebody is concerned about folks unable to take care of themselves for one reason or another.
I am not as optimistic as some of my friends that we could eliminate homelessness with a permanent shelter and organized rehabilitation programs.
In the first place, I don't think there are many homeless people who actually want to be rehabilitated. Secondly, with a permanent shelter we would be attracting homeless people from other cities and Portsmouth is hard put to take care of its own residents, much less those from suburban cities.
However, I firmly believe in the program as it now exists. I think all of us owe it to society to help those who need help.
We do not need to relegate all social services to the bureaucrats. In fact, it probably works better and costs less to do programs such as the Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless have set up.
Aside from the assistance provided to those in need of food and shelter, such programs create community spirit among those who participate.
The Volunteers are going to meet at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 19 in Trinity Episcopal parish hall. They will be planning the season and making assignments at that session.
The group is asking local churches and synagogues ``for any or all'' of the following for each night the shelters will be open:
1. Men. Two for each night to act as chaperones, staying from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m.
2. Food preparation. Meals are prepared beforehand and brought to the shelter location, where they may be warmed up. Attendance has ranged from 16 to 62.
3. Food servers. Three to four people to serve food brought to the shelter and served about 9 p.m.
4. Registrars. One person to register shelter guests upon entering, 8 to 10 p.m.
Pharmacist David W. Stephenson is president of the volunteers and may be contacted at his business, Suburban Pharmacy, at 397-2377, or at home, 484-9534. by CNB