Hundreds Camp At Courthouse To Raise Poverty Awareness
Hundreds Camp At Courthouse To Raise Poverty Awareness
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Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Hundreds Camp At Courthouse To Raise Poverty AwarenessRocky Martin was homeless on the streets of Calcutta, India, for the first 15 years of his life.
Martin, 34, now lives in an apartment in Warsaw and is a minister on staff at New Life Christian Church, Warsaw. He serves food to those in need at the church's food pantry Monday through Thursday for an hour each day."Sleeping in a cardboard box was a luxury as I remember sleeping with hay over me on the side of the road in Calcutta," Martin said.
He moved from India to Missouri to work in the missions field in 2006 and moved to Warsaw in April.
Martin and 100 Grace College students and others in the community slept on the courthouse lawn Thursday night in tents and cardboard boxes to raise awareness about poverty. The "tent city" was sponsored by The Greater Warsaw Ministerial Association and New Life Christian Church.
Participants were allowed to bring food and beverages, but were encouraged to fast and pray if they chose.
Katie Adams, a junior double major in criminal justice and psychology at Grace College, slept in a cardboard box.
"I've never experienced poverty and often take what I have for granted. It's easy to judge other people, but I think to myself why judge someone if I have no idea what it is like to be homeless?" Adams said.
Brian Shively, a sophomore sociology and Bible major, slept in a tent with other male students. He is a member of Winona Lake Free Methodist Church where the church collects toiletry items for the homeless.
"I thought sleeping in a tent on the courthouse lawn would be a good way to make the community aware there is homelessness here," Shively said.
Rachael Ramos, a sophomore communication and public relations and Spanish major, said homelessness is an issue that needs to be addressed.
"I think it's important to speak for the voiceless people who are so many and don't have a representative," Ramos said.
Scott Feather, dean of the chapel and global ministries at Grace College, said he hopes the students will come away with a realization that poverty is in their own back yard.
"I think my college students worry about poverty that happens 3,000 miles away, and I hope sleeping on the courthouse lawn brings it home that poverty is in their community," Feather said.
New Life Christian Church provided shelter at the church in cooperation with the Salvation Army last winter season, providing 472 nights of stay in a four-month period.
This year, the Project Refuge Shelter is being developed at The Salvation Army with the support of the association and church.
The shelter will re-open Oct. 1 and remain open until March 31. It will alternate at different locations with Salvation Army and New Life Christian taking turns hosting the shelter, with plans to have assistance from other churches.
Pastor John Lowe, Greater Warsaw Ministerial Association board member and New Life Christian church pastor, came up with the idea for tent city. He said the purpose was to help the community realize there is poverty in Kosciusko County.
"Poverty is hidden in this county, but at the same time there is more poverty than people realize," Lowe said.
He said people live out of tents and vehicles, and sometimes have their home foreclosed on and don't have anywhere to turn.
Donations for Project Refuge may be sent with checks payable to GWMA, PO Box 1797, Warsaw, IN 46581. For more information, visit www.gmawarsaw.com
