“Greensboro Public Library (GPL), NC, is a good example of how programming to serve the homeless and low-income users can be sustained by vital partnerships and a strong commitment to service. It also demonstrates the importance of listening closely to the program’s target users.

Every Monday from December to March meals are served at the library. These mealtimes, called the Winter Series, are attended by 50 to 60 people, most of whom are homeless. Of those not homeless, some are low-­income folks who use the meal as a way to save money while others are there for the companionship. What started as a pilot program is now a standard, continuing despite the loss of the librarian who was a coleader.”

>> Read all of “The Problem Is Not the Homeless” at LibraryJournal.com.

Thank you to all who continue to make this program a success and a service to the homeless in Greensboro! A special thanks to Jennifer Worrells, the GPL employee who assisted volunteers in starting the Winter Series, and to Greensboro Food Not Bombs, for providing the weekly meal (year-round, not just winter) for homeless and hungry people!

I didn’t know Ronald well; Marshall knew him better.  Ronald ate at the weekly community dinners at our church, Grace Community, at the Food Not Bombs dinners at the library on Monday nights, and we’d seen him on NightWatch.  I remember him as being very polite and quiet, not much of a talker, but always smiling and thankful for the meals we served.

I talked to my friend and ministry partner Audrie last night, when I found out about the accident, and again after I found out that he died.  We are both shocked and sad.  I’m praying for the young lady who hit him.  I can’t imagine how traumatizing that must be for her.  That’s a very dangerous stretch of road for pedestrians to cross.  We tell our NightWatch volunteers to be very careful when they leave the parking lot at night, because there are a lot of people walking and crossing the road in that area, and it’s dark and hard to see them.  This is just so, so sad.

LORD, be with the family, and with our friends who knew Ronald, and give them comfort and peace…

**UPDATE: Just got a phone call. Although news reports say Ronald died at the hospital, witnesses tell me that Ronald died at the scene. Based on what they saw, they believe that he was killed instantly or died within minutes. I hope that this is true, because it means that he probably didn’t suffer. One of his friends tells me, “He had a lot of friends… He was well-liked on the street.” Also, he used to fly a sign right off of Westover Terrace, by the elementary school, so you may have seen him. I’ll try to get a picture of him.

Then my friend came and sat on the couch beside me, and a group of us talked about the emergency winter shelter situation.  A currently homeless friend — who has been feeding other homeless people with take-home food from his catering job — sat on the other side of me, and they talked about helping homeless people. She told him about buying and cooking food and taking it to homeless people who sleep under bridges. This Thanksgiving, she’s planning to cook a turkey and invite anyone who doesn’t have a place to go — homeless or homed — to come and eat.  I have a place to go, but I think I’d rather be there.

I was with another homeless friend last night who is constantly gathering things for other homeless or hungry people — clothes, furniture, resources.  She cooks and serves with FNB.  She volunteers with DayWatch.  She is consistent, reliable and tireless.  She puts others first and herself last.  Always.  I am in awe of her.  I love her.

I’ve spent a big part of my day with another close friend, who is formerly homeless.  He devotes most of his time to feeding homeless and hungry people, through FNB.  Every time we have a crisis and need to mobilize and feed or serve people, he’s there.  Whenever we do DayWatch, he’s there.  When I need someone to move furniture, clean and organize spaces, shop for bulk stuff and load it on my truck, or just talk through the moving parts of street outreach ministry, he is there — consistent and faithful.  He’s my friend.  And he’s a friend to homeless and hungry people in Greensboro.

I like to help people, to serve people, to do things for people. But I also have the gift of a family who makes sure that I always have everything that I need. (Not want, but definitely need.) So I am operating and giving out of an abundance. My currently and formerly homeless friends, who are the experts on homelessness because they are or have been homeless (I am not an expert, just a  grateful friend of the experts), are giving and serving out of all that they have.  Every day, they teach me what sacrifice means.  I cannot express to you how thankful, how honored, how overwhelmed I am to have these friends in my life.  I hope that you have friends like mine.  If not, I’d love to introduce you to mine sometime.  I’m so not worthy of them, and yet so thankful that they keep letting me hang around.