A small group of Walker County citizens spent the day Thursday searching for homeless in the area, giving out supplies and resource information.
Kayse Brown, Nikki Warren and Michael-Anne Green all work as certified peer support specialists to help others with substance abuse disorder. The trio had an idea to do a coat drive for the needy in Walker County. After sharing the idea with a few others, the coat drive expanded into something more.
“I am so proud of how our community comes together in times of need,” Warren said. “We accomplish so much more when we all work toward the same goal, and that goal is to reach the people who fall through the cracks and to love the ones who society has traditionally cast to the side.”
Dalton Maddox at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church helped to organize several different churches and organizations to donate items.
“Before we knew it, we were picking up a van load of blankets, pillows, socks and gloves from St Mary’s,” Brown said. “We loaded up and made the rounds to find those in need in Walker County.”
The ladies had goody bags containing resource information, gloves, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, hand warmers, water and candy to go along with the socks, blankets and pillows.
The group’s travels on Thursday led them to even walk through the woods in some areas to find people living in tents.
“I’m grateful to be apart of a group of peers who love to give back to our community and are always looking for ways to meet the needs of our people,” Green said.
Brown, Warren and Green were able to connect with 12 people needing help on Thursday, providing them with ways to help stay warm in the frigid temperatures that have blown through Walker County in recent days.
“I just love loving on people and showing people love and compassion. People just need others to believe in them and that is what we are here for,” Brown said. “I love the group of women that we have here in Walker County who continue to work daily to bring change. We are strong women in recovery, and we know without a doubt people can change because we are living proof.”
Brown said the remaining supplies were donated to the Jasper Area Family Services Center, which is located at the former West Jasper School. That location has been designated as the warming station in Jasper.
If anyone knows of others needing help during the severe cold, contact Brown at 205-435-3520 or Warren at 205-300-8403.
