TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — A local church called ‘The Bridge’ has been helping residents in need over the winter.
The recent storm and cold conditions have left many Terre Haute residents without basic essentials.
Pastor Chris Lee says the church is opening its doors to provide things like meals and showers.
“We have dinners that we do on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday”, Lee said. “They are church dinners that are open to the community, anyone is welcome to come from 6:00-7:30. Then we do a shower ministry, that’s open from 9:00 to 5:00, Monday through Friday.”
Each guest not only gets a warm meal and shower, but all hygiene necessities as well.
“We provide them towels, washcloths, toothpaste, toothbrush, underwear, socks, deodorant, anything they could possibly need”, Lee said.
Pastor Lee says the church averages between 50 and 100 guests per night, requiring volunteers, like Michael Cooper, to work long hours.
“I just do the warming center, make sure everybody enjoys themselves while they are here”, Cooper said. “That way they know that they’re just as important as anybody else, anybody can fall on a hard time.”
Yet, Cooper says seeing the transformation makes the work worthwhile.
“Seeing how people come in, then they leave, and the difference in it”, Cooper said. “Seeing the joy in their hearts and knowing they have something in their stomach and a little bit of knowledge in God.”
The church also uses the space as a warming center anytime the temperature dips under 20 degrees in Terre Haute.
