With colder weather fast approaching, so are harder times for many during this now official nationwide recession. Fortunately, there is a ministry that eases the hunger and cold of many by offering anonymous help through a van laden with food and care kits – packages full of soap, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, and other toiletries.
“There is no registration necessary for help. The only time we take your name down is for referrals to other organizations,” said Carol Werronen, a member of the staff for Street LIFE Ministries, based in Flushing, Queens.
The van makes its weekly trip to Tompkins Square Park, in Manhattan – a park famous for its history with the homeless.
The number of people seeking the help of SLM has increased in the last few months, though Werronen is not sure whether this is attributable to the economy or just the colder weather. As for the financial support SLM needs, Werronen said, “As a ministry, we’re always in need of donors and support.”
For the time being, the much depended upon stream of civilian donations does not seem to have run dry. “Recently, somebody donated hats, gloves, and scarves,” said Werronen. “And we just had a big shipment of coats,” she added.
Also, for the weekly van-mission, SLM is “able to have the food every week, the clothing every week, and the toiletries every week,” said Werronen.
As for the kinds of people who come looking for help, “Some people are homeless but some people also just need help,” said Werronen. “There is a large elderly immigrant population around there, and they do have homes but they also need the extra help. And some of them collect things so that they can send them back to their home countries,” she added.
During these hard times, help of any kind – but especially anonymous help – seems a godsend, but it appears that many people do not reach out because of shame.
“I don’t need to, but even if I did, I would be too embarrassed to go somewhere and ask for things,” said Maria Bonilla, a 17-year resident of Flushing.
“I feel lucky nowadays just to have a roof over my head,” she added.