Street Life Ministries has joined other ministries and a small army of volunteers again this year for Don't Walk By (check out the website)."The outreach strategy for Don't Walk By is simple but effective. Small teams led by a leader will walk a predetermined route on the streets of Manhattan each Saturday night from 5:30pm-9:30pm.
1. Teams will engage the homeless on the streets and offer a hygiene kit as a gift. Rescue workers will show compassion and inquire as to the person’s well being.
2. After chatting, the homeless person will be invited to walk back with the team to an outreach vehicle positioned nearby to enjoy some hot chocolate and catch a ride on one of our shuttles to that night’s anchor church. Workers will be hosting people at the bus offering love and encouragement.
3. If willing, street people will be transported to the anchor church for a hot meal, have the chance to get clothing, coats and blankets, and talk to someone about possibly entering a faith based drug/ alcohol rehabilitation program.
4. If willing, the person will be given overnight shelter to get out of the cold and begin the process of entering a program.
5. The next day or soon after, the homeless person will be transported to one of the programs partnering with Rescue Alliance NYC."
This outreach is Saturday afternoon/evening most of January and in to February. Most of the SLM staff are team leaders, however I have been a van driver, transporting people to the host church or programs that have accepted them.
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