Chastity Pharr, left, with Abba's House, prays with Ron Johnson on Friday, May 8, 2015, at the National Guard Armory during Project Homeless Connect in Chattanooga, Tenn. Assistance programs from across the region were on hand to offer help with services and donated goods to those who are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless.
David CookConstruction begins soon to rebuild and widen the 2.3-mile stretch of U.S. 27 through downtown, from the Olgiati Bridge to Interstate 24.
It also means that soon - or maybe it's happening now - all the homeless men and women living in that area will be displaced. By some counts, it's upwards of 25 people.
"Where will they go?" asked the Rev. Barry Kidwell.
Odds are, they'll go to him. Kidwell - a Methodist minister who wears blue jeans when he preaches and is easily one of the finest men I know - runs Mustard Tree Ministries, and for the last 20-some years, has been ministering to our local homeless.
What began with sock distribution in the winter has now reached a seven-day-a-week ministry. Each Wednesday, Kidwell serves 100 or more hot soup lunches at Miller Park. The other six days, he's visiting camps, helping folks navigate the paper trail for lost ID cards, bringing firewood, securing job applications, sending folks to rehab facilities across the U.S., leading worship services and loving them.
The other day, a local family lost their apartment. The husband had been working in a factory for years, but his hours got reduced. Then, he missed one - one! - rent payment, and was kicked out.
At Christmastime.
With a wife and kids.
He went to Kidwell.
"We're paying for their hotel," he said.
This is the time of year for giving. If you're making a year-end donation, consider Mustard Tree (reach Kidwell through Chattanooga's First Baptist Church), or any of our area nonprofits. Many you know about; some, like the following, you may not.
' A woman whose son died recently asked James Newby if it ever gets any easier. If the load of grief and loss ever gets lighter.
No, Newby said.
"The weight doesn't get any less, and I'm not sure I would want it to," he said. "But your legs do get stronger."
Two years ago, Newby's son, Alec, died in a motorcycle accident. Alec was full of life: an X-Games heart, an eye for adventure, the big heart and panache of those who embrace life.
As part of his grief, and with the support of Alec's mom and sister, Newby created Project H.E.A.L. (Help and Encouragement After Loss), which provides financial assistance to families who just lost children. Helps with funeral costs. Pays for grief counseling. Or time away during the anniversary of a child's death. Visit projecthealchattanooga.org.
Several weeks ago, H.E.A.L.'s first golf tournament raised $17,000, all to help local families not shed their grief, but grow stronger through it.
"Surviving and growing after a loss," he said.
' Longtime and well-known local runners Rita Fanning and Robert Gustafson are looking for sponsors to help them build a unique running program for the homeless.
It's called My Own Two Feet.
"The intent is to channel the commitment and discipline received in training runs to other life activities such as obtaining independence, a job and ultimately housing," they said.
Participants sign a pledge, committing to run three days a week with Fanning and Gustafson. They are given a donated pair of running shoes. New socks. A running shirt.
After their first 5k, a new pair of shoes. More gear. Race entry fees paid. Training runs with local coaches.
"Sponsors are needed for this special running group," they said. Fanning can be reached at 423-309-1278 or Gustafson at 423-208-1803.
Others? I love the Center for Mindful Living. And Mercy Junction's Justice and Peace Center. Pastor Josh Woodrow's reconciliation work with the Bridge City Community in Alton Park. Or Robyn Carlton and the Lookout Mountain Conservancy's work with The Howard School. Latoya Holloman and Loving My Community. Chris Robinson's P52 - connecting with volunteers with widows and shut-ins as a form of church-in-the-world - could use money or volunteer time.
And don't forget about the Christian Bryant Foundation.
In 2006, Christian walked into my middle-school classroom: quiet, witty, big-hearted and blazingly intelligent.
Already, she was carrying a dream inside: She wanted to change the world.
In 2011, days before her senior year, Christian - a runner, scholar, planning to go to Georgia Tech - was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
She fought with courage most of us will never know. And love. She decorated the halls of the children's oncology unit at Erlanger. Created a plan to send used medical equipment to Third World hospitals. Wrote her English papers during chemo treatments.
Even from the hospital, she changed the world around her.
Christian died in 2012 from complications, yet her parents and sister keep her legacy and memory alive through the Christian Bryant Foundation - thechris tianbryantfoundation.com - which helps meet the medical needs of families whose children are sick.
Families in need.
Especially at Christmas.
Contact David Cook at dcook@times freepress.com or 423-757-6329. Follow him on Facebook at DavidCookTFP.