Champions of the Poor

Youth feed, clothe, and befriend the homeless
(from the May 2003 issue)

by Bruce Babienco with Jana Withrow

On the first Sabbath of each month, the Glendale (Indianapolis) Church youth feed homeless people. Their project began fifteen years ago under the leadership of Jana Withrow when they fed 25 people, but today it has grown to feeding 100 people.

Jana Withrow (center), Glendale Church youth leader, wanted to teach the youth how to reach out to the outcasts in our society, so she initiated the youth program to feed the homeless.

The number of homeless increased when the state began closing its institutions for senior citizens, resulting in more and more people living on the streets. When the economy worsened, the need for help doubled. Yes, they serve drug addicts and alcoholics, but there are also homeless individuals who are mentality challenged and elderly on fixed incomes who do not have a place to stay. They need this ministry.

Jana wanted to teach the youth how to reach out to the outcasts in our society. “It’s a satisfying experience to observe the youth, who have gone away to college, call us to make sure they can join our ministry when they come home on vacations,” Jana says. “Other youth who have completed college and returned home to our Glendale Church have also become a part of our continuing homeless ministry.”

The youth organize the lunch sacks themselves by putting a sandwich, piece of fruit, cookie, package of chips, and a drink in individual paper bags. They also pull a trailer and offer hot chili or bean soup with corn bread during the winter. Eight years ago they expanded their project to include providing used clothing. Today, as they are giving out food, they are also handing out jeans, shirts, underwear, socks, gloves, and blankets. In order to collect these items of used clothing, the youth are always having clothing drives.

On Sabbath afternoons, its not just the youth who help the homeless, but sometimes whole families come to assist. Some hand out literature, others talk with people, and sometimes the homeless will request a young person to pray with them. When the youth group members reach their location to distribute food and clothing, they form a circle to pray. Sometime the homeless will come over and join this prayer circle.

On Sabbath afternoons, its not just the Glendale Church youth who help the homeless, but sometimes whole families come to assist.

This year the youth have started to hand out plastic bags with toothbrushes, toothpaste, a bar of soap, trial size bottles of shampoo, razors, and combs. There is such a great need, and in the cold weather many times they run out of everything in less than a half hour.

The greatest blessing, however, is to see the changes in the lives of our youth. They become more caring of others and their needs. I’ve seen a homeless person cry because a young person gave them a hug and didn’t step aside because they smelled bad.

Matthew 25 encourages us to continue our homeless project because Jesus tells us that when we offer love, time, and food to those with needs, we are truly ministering to Him. In the final judgment, God’s promised reward of everlasting life will be given to those who have seen the needs of others and have done what they could to supply them.

We trust that other congregations will be encouraged by our youths’ commitment and organize their own projects to reach out to homeless people in their areas.

Bruce Babienco, Lake Union Herald volunteer correspondent, with Jana Withrow, Glendale Church youth leader.