3:46 am: its cold!!

So I think I slept about 2 hours this night.
For everyone who doesn't know, my family, friend and I are sleeping outside for The Refuge's homeless awareness event.

Now it's almost 4am and really cold and really uncomfortable.
The cold is not bothering so much as my back. Trying to stay comfortable is hopeless.
The other problem is the noise. My goodness if I had to do this often I would pick a place away from the road and train!!

My son however is freezing!

We just walked over to the Catholic church across the road to use the bathroom. Headed back to figure out how to make it until a little later.

We ended up in the van until 5. Then we got breakfast, packed up, and now in the van again.

We thought that if we did this again next year we were thinking of staying the night in the car. Then we could identify with those living in their cars.
We could pick a parking lot close to M-24, get a lot more people to do it with us and put big signs in our car windows. Hmmm....what do you think?
Anyway, make sure to make your One Day for The Refuge gift today. Our fundraiser is today.
Give online or stop by here until 11, or drop a check in the mail.

Sleeping outside tonight

Well there were about 40 people gathered here tonight to share a meal, prayer time, and fellowship.

Now my family, my good friend Amy and I are in our tents trying to keep warm!

We'll see just how much sleep we get. We know there is at least one homeless person in a tent tonight, so we'll get a good idea of what it's like for him.

In the morning from 9-11 we'll be gathered out here for sign brigade. It's also our One Day For The Refuge fundraiser.

Well time to go for now. Good night!

2 Top Problems in Lapeer

Whew! What a whirlwind of activity today.
Today was supposed to be a day of preparing for the National Homeless Awareness event tonight at the Marguerite deAnglei Library in town at 6pm-8pm.
It turned into more than that however.

As many of you know Tuesday evening there was a large fire that ruined some apartments in down town Lapeer leaving about 10 people displaced.

I just came from an hour and half long emergency meeting put together by Rod Smith from the Lapeer Community Church to try to put some organization to all the outpouring of aid that has been coming in for these victims of the fire.

This brought up the discussion of two main problems in Lapeer.
1. Homelessness
2. Lack of an emergency plan of action for situations like fire or natural disasters.

When something like this happens the American Red Cross steps in and does a wonderful job at handling the immediate need of shelter for about 3 days. After that, Lapeer has no other readily available assistance.

Fortunately, we were able to get somethings moving and develop a plan of action today between Love Inc. and the Housing Resource Center to aid in this situation.

Anyone wanting to know how to help please call Love Inc. at 810.245.2414
This just came in from Lapeer Chamber of Commerce

Lapeer Area Chamber of Commerce Love INC. of Lapeer will be acting as a monetary donation center for ALL of the families and individuals affected by the recent fires over the past week.

LOVE IN THE NAME CHRIST a para ministry here in Lapeer, is accepting monetary donations, cash or check. The donations will be used to provide vouchers for the families and individuals to assist them in purchasing food, housing, personal items, utility bills, etc. 

PLEASE EARMARK DONATIONS FOR:
FIRE RELIEF FUND
MAIL or DROP OFF AT ANY BRANCH OF 
LAPEER COUNTY BANK & TRUST

FOR DONATIONS OTHER THAN FINANCIAL PLEASE CALL 
LOVE INC. FIRST AS THEY HAVE HAD NUMEROUS DONATIONS OF CLOTHING ALREADY

THESE FAMILIES ARE ALSO IN NEED OF TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT HOUSING
FOR QUESTIONS OR INFORMATION ON HOUSING PLEASE CALL
SUE BRADY AT LOVE INC
810-245-2414

Find even more info. about needs here https://www.facebook.com/events/1433297223555965/?previousaction=join&source=1

In the future though, we would like agencies and concerned citizens to come together to help develop a plan that can be implemented immediately if this or another tragedy should occur.
If you would like to be involved in that, I will be posting when those meeting times will be and where. We most likely won't meet until January.

I'm glad that we are able to take action and at least in this situation we can meet the needs
But there's always the constant problem of homelessness.

We discussed the greater need of a year round shelter as well as the gaps and often disorganized problems with assistance to homeless persons.

Tonight's event is just one way The Refuge is attempting to bring about the awareness of the problem of homelessness.We will be gathering for a simple meal and fellowship and then a time of prayer.Then my family, my two friends and I will be sleeping out in a tent for the night to identify with those that even this week are homeless living in a tent themselves or in their car.

It takes a community working together to address these needs.
More importantly it demands the attention of believers, of those who claim Jesus as their savior to head the call to action.

Join me and the many others working to provide hope to those in need in Lapeer County.