Tag: homeless

Judgment Has No Place in Churches

Atmosphere of judgement has no place in the church, which is founded on, and should be centered around, grace. People who love others of the same sex, people who don’t have a home, people who are a non-white race, all these people who may differ from the norm in white churches and some in black churches. There shouldn’t be all-white or all-black churches, but there are, or at least 99.9% white or black. People who can’t afford to buy dress clothes for church should not be shunned. People who are in a dating or marriage relationship with those of the same sex, or those who identify with them should be welcomed and encouraged, like any other member or visitor. Even so, those considered sinners, who continually break God’s law, have no less value than anyone else. We all continually break God’s law. Not one of us is without sin in God’s eyes.

Helping the Salvation Army of Tallahassee

I’ve been working at the Salvation Army as a Social Services receptionist for about two months now. I greet visitors and let employees know when someone is there to see them. I answer the phone and forward calls to voicemail or let employees know they have a call. Also we have bread and pastries that people can take two items per day. And sometimes we have candy canes if they are donated.

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In the area where I work, people come to get food, clothing vouchers for our thrift store, or hygiene kits. If they are transitioning from homelessness to a home and they have a letter from FEMA or Red Cross, or a caseworker, and they have a truck to move it, they can get furniture and kitchen items.

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Salvation Army helps people do community service for legal restitution. They mostly help in the thrift store or the warehouse in the back and the basement. Salvation Army does emergency disaster relief, makes presentations on human trafficking, and recently are starting up a program called Pathway to Hope, which involves counseling and assistance for families.

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Sometimes, like everyone, I get frustrated with all the bureaucracy. Because the Social Services are funded by grants, there are rules and limitations with regard to how often people can receive help and what kind of help they can receive. Everyone has to have photo identification and part of their social security number is entered into the computerized case managing system.

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I’ve enjoyed working there, meeting new people, helping people in need and connecting professionals who do great work in our community. I hope that as I work there, I will become qualified to help people in more and better ways. I feel privileged to have this opportunity to participate in the charitable work that Salvation Army does.