Dinner At Centenary Church of St Louis

Last night I joined the homeless at the dinner service at Centenary Church located a block south of my place. This was an unplanned visit.

My homeless friend, that I met 3 weeks ago at Lucas Park, stores his extra clothes at the Horizon Club at 23rd & Olive. However last night the facility was going to be closed for 24 hours for cleaning so all stored possessions had to be removed or they would be tossed. Several days ago I had agreed to store his items in the trunk of my car until Wednesday when he could return the items to his locker.

The Horizon Club opened last year as a “safe haven” drop-in center for 25 people at a time. It is open 24/7 except for this one day per month when it is closed for cleaning. Upon meeting my friend outside I asked if he could get me inside so I could see the facility. Several guys were waiting outside for a spot to open up inside. We got buzzed into a small lobby area where 5-6 more people were waiting. He got buzzed into the main space and then he went and checked with the staff to get permission to let me in.

The place has a large room to the left of the front door. Next to the staff desk is two computers connected to the internet – both were in use. There are various chairs, more computers with games and a TV area. Back near the entry are two bathrooms, each with a shower. To the far right is the locker room. A staff person must be present to let someone into that area. Again, the place was at capacity around 3:45pm with another 10 waiting to get in.

So after we filled my trunk with my friend’s worldly goods I asked if he needed a ride anywhere. He was headed to Centenary Church, down the street between 16th & 17th. When I pulled into the parking lot my first thought was just to drop him off and head back home for dinner. But then I thought what better time than the present to expand my understanding of homeless services.

No getting buzzed in here but the guard did “wand” us. Last year I spent a Saturday morning with my friend Robert Lipscomb serving breakfast at Christ Church Cathedral at 13th & Locust. Centenary’s space is substantially bigger, perhaps 10 times as much. I talked to a woman I had met at Lucas Park, she was at a table drawing. My friend and I sat and started chatting. Dinner service was to start at 5pm. About 4:30pm a volunteer began passing out numbers to those that are seated. I didn’t take one because it just didn’t seem right for me to eat their food.

A few rows over I spotted a guy that looked new. My friend confirmed as much. He was young, maybe early 20s. His white sneakers were still white. He wasn’t socializing with others and he had a sorta scared look on his face.

A guy joined us at our table. He looked familiar. He recognized me from the Lucas Park cleanups. Hard to blend in with a shaved head and a bright orange wheelchair I guess. We three talked about the petition circulated by Andy Mortello to shut down Larry Rice’s New Life Evangelistic Center. Andy is among the group of neighbors that has been working in the park. The new guy, Keith, indicated the guys staying up late and drinking in the park were not guests at Rice’s NLEC. Makes sense since those staying in the shelter must check-in by 5pm. I explained that I understood that not all homeless are the same. I also had to explain that not all residents were the same — we don’t all call the police or the health dept about drinking in the park or mass feedings. He had misconceptions about us and lumped us all together as the same. We do the same by lumping all the homeless into one big group. He works but just doesn’t make enough to get off the street yet.

We just want to cut down on things like public urination. Sunday I was coming home from the Taste of St Louis event. I was in the wheelchair on Locust at 15th — a block from my place. I was in front of the Campbell House Museum. Looking West toward the YMCA I could not believe my eyes – – a buck naked man on the sidewalk in the middle of the day! As a gay man I’m not adverse to such a sight but just not on the sidewalk mid-day. The man was changing clothes and I spotted him mid process. It wasn’t like he was trying to hide his business.

Back to Centenary.

At 5pm they began calling numbers in groups of 10 to get in line. My friends number was 62. Looked like a good meal, certainly better than a few I had in the hospital earlier this year. I indicated I’d have a tough time since I’m vegetarian. He said one woman who was often there was a vegan and they usually tried to accommodate her. He had a big slice of ham — not my thing. But the potatoes & green beans looked good! Hmmm, perhaps I should have taken a number….

I learned that numerous groups, often church groups, help Centenary with the meals which are served during the week (breakfast M-F, lunch M-F, dinner Sunday-Thursday). Last night they served dinner to about 150 individuals. Same is true for the other places that serve hot meals like St Peter & Paul in Soulard. I love that people donate their time & money to help feed others but it would be great if more of them would work in concert with churches like Centenary or St Peter & Paul.

I think one of the problems might be knowing where or how to help. Most people in the region know they’ll find homeless at Lucas Park so that is where they come trying to help. The problem with that is the park is my neighborhood park. Food debris attracts rodents. By all means I don’t want to discourage those that want to help.

While at Centenary my friend grabbed a resource sheet that is used to help the homeless know where to get a meal, clothes, a bunk for the night and so on. Even though I was in a Methodist Church they were gladly handing out this brochure created by Catholic Charities. Cooperation.

So in that spirit I scanned the brochure for all to view.

For more information on how to contribute to the solution:

• Centenary CARES (you can even donate via PayPal)
• Catholic Charities Housing Resource Center / St Patrick Center

So while I didn’t get a tray of food at Centenary, I did get something that will last much longer, new friends and a better understanding of their current situation.

Update 9/30/08 @ 11am – uploaded more clear version of the services brochure.