Beyond the Call

 

Beyond the Call

We highlight Kim and James Hanley

 Toni McDowra   eparisextra.com

This past week has been one of many challenges for Texans; from small communities to large metropolitan areas, the stories were much the same. Our great state suffered power outages, no internet, and no water.  However, for many of our homeless, the stories are not the same. Survival is their story.

Kim and James are members of the Lamar Ave. Church of Christ and after James received an email from the Lamar County United Way asking people in the community if they could help with the homeless in the county, James immediately jumped into action. He and many of the elders of the church have opened up the church gym in the past in times of need and they all agreed they needed to open up once again with a warming station.

The warming station opened last Friday at 6 p.m. and ran 24 hours a day through 10 a.m. on Thursday.  “We coordinated efforts with local non-profits, churches, and businesses to take in and take care of 27 people during the snowstorm. They received three meals a day and any other assistance they needed, we provided,” said James.

Nine different churches, 12 local businesses, 63 volunteers, and $10,000 in resources were used to make the warming station happen around the clock.

“There are so many stories from this past week,” said James. “If someone came in and needed a meal, we served them. If they needed propane, we got it for them. If they were in need of medicine, we delivered it to them; whatever we could do to help.”

“There was one family who was trying to make it to Kansas and they had a blowout on their van.  They made their way into the warming station and we got their van fixed, kept them warm overnight, fed them and they were on their way the next day.” 

Yesterday, as the station came to a close at 10 a.m., James and the volunteers sent many off with sleeping bags, pillows, and blankets. “We had eleven people left with nowhere to go; with generous donations, we were able to secure eleven local hotel rooms for these folks for four nights,” added James.

During all of this, James came home one night and their home had a burst pipe, but that did not stop him from serving and doing God’s work. “We didn’t know how to do all we did, but God gave us the strength to keep going and he showed us the way. It has been amazing the outpouring of love from the community. We were just doing what God told us to do and it has been an honor to serve those in need.”

If you are in need, there are two local warming stations still open, though not 24 hours a day; CitySquare and Horizon House.