• By Pat Murphy, HometownLife.com •
Thirty-nine homeless people have been guests at Redford Aldersgate Methodist Church this week as part of the Rotating Shelter of Detroit-Wayne County program.
“They're more than welcome,” said Betty Stout, a member of the church who has been helping prepare breakfast and dinner to the guests in addition to box lunches they take when going back to Detroit where some have jobs, others take classes and still others get medical attention.
“They (volunteers) have made us feel welcome,” said guest Anita Bruister.
Bruister and other guests arrived Saturday, after spending the previous week at First Methodist Church in Northville. This Saturday, the guests — with mattresses and plastic bags of belongings in tow — will depart for St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church in Grosse Pointe Farms.
From about 7 a.m. guests are bused into Detroit, and they return about 6 p.m. During the time they call Aldersgate home, the guests pass the time with a variety of activities including board games, watching television or just socializing.
“People have gone out of their way to help,” said guest Gerald Williams, who hopes to get a job as soon as he qualifies for a GED.
The rotating shelter program has existed for about two decades, said Faith Fowler, executive director of Cass Community Social Services, with churches throughout the metro area participating. Among them is St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church, which hosted guests in December, she said.
“We've participated for almost two decades,” said Clare Miller, program coordinator at the church, who lives in Farmington Hills, “Our parishioners are really supportive.”
“It's not much work really,” said Anne Lind, who helped prepared a stew for dinner. “And we enjoy it,” said Lind, a Southfield resident and member of New Beginnings United Methodist in Redford.
Trent Cramer, 12, agreed. “You never know when one of us might need help,” he said.
While Aldersgate members do much of the work, they also get help from several churches including New Beginnings United Methodist and St. Elizabeth Episcopal in Redford; St. Matthew's United Methodist in Livonia; Farmington First United Methodist; and Second Grace United Methodist in Detroit.
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As published on HometownLife.com on March 10.
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