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Salmon Arm homeless not hopeless this winter
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The question of how to look after the homeless of Salmon Arm has been a point of discussion for several years between counselors, the public, and churches here. Views range from ‘we must look after them, it’s cold outside’ and ‘it’s our duty as human beings’ to ‘having a shelter here will bring down the tone of the neighbourhood,’ and ‘some people don’t want to be a part of the system, you know.’ Most Christians I associate with are of the opinion that we have a duty to look after one another, period. Almost anyone would agree that no one would have chosen to spend last winter without a roof over his or her head: it was very cold all over British Columbia, but the homeless felt this more than anyone.
A program called ‘Inn from the cold’ hopes to provide at least some comfort for those with no shelter of their own. Involving many churches and many volunteers, this is a big project.
The Salmon Arm First United Church will be opening its doors from November 23rd to January 15th. They are looking for people to make food, clean sheets, and to sleep overnight. Go to www.firstunitedsalmonarm.ca for more information.
After January 15th, the Salvation Army will take over the program until March 16th. This comes as no surprise, since the Salvation Army has provided many social services since it began well over a century ago. They are the first name in nitty-gritty Christianity, always willing to go places that would make others afraid, including the dark corners where those on the fringes of society live from day to day.
As usual, watch out for the Salvation Army red kettles this Christmas.
