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Backpacks offer aid in winter to homeless

Jennifer Frew | The News Herald

Backpacks filled with survival items are being put together as the House of Refuge Ministries encourages the community to help the homeless population in Burke County.

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The House of Refuge

By Julie N. Chang | The News Herald

Published: December 3, 2008

MORGANTON - As the temperature drops and the wind chill grows sharper, the House of Refuge Ministries in Morganton is encouraging the community to help the homeless in Burke County.

Executive Director David Collins said Refuge Ministries is collecting backpacks for the homeless from community churches and organizations.

The program resulted from the 2008 Point-in-Time count the organization conducts annually to receive grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

When volunteers surveyed Burke County's homeless people in January 2008, they distributed backpacks including blankets, socks, gloves, hats, toiletries and food. Giving away the backpacks became more than an incentive for the homeless to participate in the survey; instead the volunteers were providing winter survival kits for the homeless.

Now it's gone beyond the annual survey and become a continuing project.

"We're distributing them as quickly as we are putting them together," Collins said.

He said the backpacks' contents helps homeless people who are unable or unwilling to find shelter in the winter. He said law enforcement officials have requested some of the backpacks to hand out to the homeless people they encounter.

Morganton Public Safety Maj. Billy Bradshaw said the backpacks help the homeless survive through the winter months.

"We want to make sure they are o.k.," Bradshaw said. "We check on the homeless every year."

He said sometimes it is hard for the police to help the homeless, who are wary of law enforcement officers. The annual survey in January provides a special opportunity for the police to reach out to the homeless to make sure they can find shelter.

The entire cost of one backpack with its recommended items can be as little as $20, Collins said. Many of the items can be purchased at dollar stores for less than $2; others may be bought inexpensively at surplus and charity-based thrift stores.

Most of the backpacks have been provided by community churches, but Collins said anyone can pack a bag and drop it off at Calvary Baptist Church, 407 S. Green St.

For more information on the program visit www.refugeministries.us.
Recommended items for each backpack:
• 1 blanket
• 8' x 10' tarp
• 1 liter bottled water
• 1 toothbrush
• 1 tube toothpaste
• 1 bar of soap
• 2 cans tuna in oil
• 1 can mandarin orange slices
• 2 cans sardines in oil
• 1 quart can beef stew
• 1 heavy sweatshirt
• 1 heavy pair sweat pants
• 1 knit cap
• 1 pair gloves
• 1 can opener