Courtesy Photo | Volunteers from Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Fort Irwin, and the local Barstow...... read more read more
BARSTOW, Calif. - When it comes to feeding the members of the homeless community in the Barstow area, Blessings proves true to its name as its volunteers provide food, clothing and other items to those in need.
Sandra Murray, the wife of Sgt. Horace Carryl, food inspector for the U.S. Army Public Health Command District – San Diego, stationed aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Calif., created a Facebook group called Blessings, on the first of January this year. Through Blessings, Murray challenged members to give five homeless people a meal each month. The request was simple and direct.
“Doing what you can, when you can,” said Murray. “Half a loaf of bread is better than none.”
Not everyone can give a lot, she explained, but everyone can give a little.
Since its creation, Blessings has paired up with local High Desert organizations in order to better serve the homeless population. Desert Manna in Barstow is one such organization. Murray advises Desert Manna coordinators when and where volunteers will be serving food and dispersing donations, and Desert Manna joins in the efforts.
“We provide Blessings with food, clothing, blankets,” said Beth Simpson, program director at Desert Manna.
With the high number of homeless people in the High Desert, Simpson emphasized the importance of groups like Blessings being willing to hit the pavement and reach as many people as possible.
“In 2014, 450 homeless men, women and children came through our facility,” said Simpson. “This includes 25 veterans.”
Although there are 32 beds available at the Desert Manna facility, Simpson indicated that there are often people who either cannot or will not commit to staying in a shelter facility.
“It’s nice to have community coalitions like (Blessings) to go out and make a difference” said Simpson.
Jeff Collins, deputy with San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department, and High Desert coordinator for Homeless Outreach Proactive Enforcement division, agreed with Simpson regarding the number of chronic homeless in the High Desert.
“A Point-In-Time (Homeless) Count was done by the Office of Homeless Services, in January, 2015,” said Deputy Collins. The PITHC is a count of sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons on a single night in January, as required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Deputy Collins said that the number of homeless reported during that PITHC event are as follows:
Barstow: 33
Apple Valley: 15
Adelanto: 3
Hesperia: 5
Victorville: 120
“(This) is not a perfect 100 percent count, though,” Deputy Collins pointed out. “There is a four-hour window where volunteers go out and attempt to make contact with the homeless in the community. The (numbers are) likely one third of reality.”
With the hope of reaching as many chronically homeless people as possible, Murray gathers volunteers through the Blessings Facebook page and together they sort donations, cook and serve it up at a local park.
“Since we’re all going out (to volunteer), why not meet and go out together?” asked Murray. The group meets on the second Sunday of each month at Lillian Park in Barstow. Volunteers and people-in-need could come together with a common goal: to share food and hope.
“I (volunteer) because I have been taught to ‘treat others as you want to be treated,’” said Jill Kovach, wife of Staff Sgt. Frank Kovach, training chief and substance abuse control officer on MCLB Barstow. “(Blessings) is a very needed role for the homeless in this area because homelessness is a sad part of Barstow. Homelessness is seen everywhere.”
Each volunteer’s unique gifts are appreciated by the group.
If you do not like to cook, there are plenty of other things to do, according to Murray. Some people collect donations of food, hygiene bags, clothing, blankets and even tents. Sometimes it is a matter of simply taking the time to listen.
“While I’m there (at Lillian Park),” said Kovach, “(we) serve the food and talk to those who come to eat.”
Knowing they have someone there who cares can make all the difference explained Murray.
For more information on Blessings, the closed group can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/909083615771032/ or call Murray at (757) 774-1150.
| Date Taken: | 04.08.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 04.08.2015 12:38 |
| Story ID: | 159420 |
| Location: | BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 121 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Blessings: Military spouses offer food and hope, by Laurie Pearson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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