Chippewa Valley Street Ministry Journal from February 21, 2024

We wouldn’t be the first in the area to call this one of the most unusual winters in memory. The people we serve are grateful to not have to face bitterly cold, snowy weather. The night’s do still get cold and can be dangerous; we’re handing out hoodies, blankets and sleeping bags regularly. Warm socks and gloves or mittens are also often requested. We adjust to the weather and when or if it turns colder, we’ll be ready to support our friends with their needs.

The street ministry has added two positions for Chaplains. Two local pastors, a male and female, will be available to assist in this effort, The Street Chaplaincy primary mission is to bring compassionate spiritual care to unsheltered and temporarily sheltered people. The street chaplain visits homeless people where they are most often found: on the streets. We do not go out to proselytize but rather to build relationships through friendly, relaxed, and non-judgmental concern. We simply ask, “How are you doing? What do you need?”, just as Jesus did. People on the streets experience various types of traumas and they need to know they aren’t alone, both tangibly and spiritually. We learn a lot about the complexities of needing and receiving services. We can help to connect the unhoused with spiritual resources if a desire for them is expressed. On the streets, we discover our common humanity.

 
 
Waiting for the shelter to open
 
We occasionally encounter a man who is deaf when we’re out. One of our student volunteers, Ella, is able to use sign language to communicate with him. The look of relief on his face knowing that someone can talk with him is heart-warming. The man looks for her first at each visit and if she’s not available, he’s disappointed. It is comforting to find people that can communicate with him. 

This man was in disbelief when we provided
a warm coat for him. He expressed gratitude
several times before departing.
 
We still have families living in their vehicles. We ensure that they have blankets and food before they leave the table and question whether they’ve contacted the local family shelter. We don’t often see them each time we’re out, we hope that they’ve found some stability and are safe.

One of our longtime friends has been in the hospital with chronic respiratory issues. He is a big part of our ministry and helps to prepare the vans and serves with us before going to the shelter. We are glad he’s out of the hospital and feeling better.

Our “beacon” for guests to find us.

We served 59 people this past Monday. Typically, we plan for 60 visitors and we did have enough food but we’ll bring more out next visit. While it has happened only one or two times, it’s a terrible feeling for those we serve and ourselves when we run out of food. Many of our brothers and sisters depend on the food that we distribute.

Thank you for your continued interest and support. We definitely could not continue on without you! Please keep our homeless friends in your thoughts as they continue on their journey.

 
Blessings to all,
CVSM Staff 
 

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