Press Release
PERTH AMBOY – We hear a lot about ‘ending homelessness’. It is a very reasonable question to ask- “Can homelessness end in our lifetime?” Robert F. Kennedy said, “There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why? I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?”
Why not? Why not give it all we have and see what happens? Local Pastor Bernadette Falcon-Lopez and her “Army” (God’s Army Ministries and other partners) stand ready, willing, and able to fight the war on homelessness. Understand however, this is not an army in the way most of us think of an army. This is a small army of five or six dedicated Volunteers who show up consistently to help. Moreover, hear this: most of the volunteers are folks who had been homeless and helped by Pastor Berny.
Despite the obstacles and the small numbers, in 2016, almost 2,000 meals were served to the homeless and poor. Nearly two hundred families and individuals were served through case management. Permanent housing was found for forty families and individuals and another one hundred and three were on the pending list. People were taken care of. They were not sent on their way with pat answers or a pat on the back. They were counseled, coached, and directed to services they needed. Each month, thousands of volunteer hours support the homeless to find food, shelter and services to help them succeed in their journeys of life and most importantly, to help them find a place to call home.
So, back to the question, can we end homelessness? The answer is a conditional No and Yes! No, without help this vision CANNOT see reality and, Yes, with your help, we CAN see an end to homelessness. Imagine what could happen if the Army could grow. Won’t you ‘enlist’?
If you would like to learn more about partnering with the Raritan Bay Area YMCA and God’s Army Ministries to End Homelessness, please call 732.771.9910, or visit our website at rbaymca.org. You can make a donation at any time by texting “Ending” to 91999, or become a sustaining partner by attending our Fundraiser on September 21 at Mi Tierra, 315 State Street, Perth Amboy at 5:30 pm by texting “EndingRSVP” to 51555.
