TheBurg

20 | theburgnews.com | 12.19 night's sleep—inside their vehicle, parked at an area truck stop. Open 24/7, truck stops also offer restrooms, showers and laundry facilities. And it was at Carlisle's Flying J Truckstop that Ben connected with a group of community volunteers from New Kingstown's St. Stephen Evangelical Lutheran Church simply called "e Flying J Ministry." Twice a month, church members, including Pastor Matthew Best, help the homeless with the most basic of human needs. ere's a welcoming time for conversation. e volunteers pay for laundry ($2.50 per washer or dryer load) and meals at the attached Denny's. While dinner orders are placed, Best B en* became homeless when his Carlisle landlord kicked the family out of their rental home. As a result, the family of seven—Ben, his wife and their five children—lived out of their minivan for six months. "It's hard to find a rental home with more than two bedrooms," he said. But they moved into another rental, and, within two months, the same thing happened. Once again, they were homeless for a period of six months. It might surprise you to learn that, through it all, Ben worked full-time as a truck driver. Like many of the area's homeless, he knew where his family could get a good One church takes homeless ministry on the road—to the local truck stop. bY KAren henDrIcKs reads from the Bible then offers his thoughts and communion. Everyone around the table—23 on the night I visited—is asked to share something for which they are thankful, followed by a prayer. Conversation, including lots of laughter, happens during dinner. en church members assess and help the homeless apply for services they may need, aided by representatives from Community Cares or Sadler Health Center. e night concludes with hot showers (normally $12 each). Many return to their temporary homes—their vehicles—overnight. "Usually people living in their cars have not been homeless for the long- term, and their car is the one thing Who Are the homeless in CumberlAnd County? 234 PeoPLe totAL 53 chILDren 7 VeterAns 16 Youth AgeD 18–24 111 househoLDs IncLuDe someone wIth A chronIc PhYsIcAL heALth Issue 23 househoLDs FLeeIng DomestIc VIoLence Source: Cumberland County Housing & Redevelopment Authorities, Oct. 2019

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