b'COMMUNITYHelping Hand for the HomelessBy Sheila Smith donations and partnerships with the City of Aurora, Food Bank of the Rockies, Denver Rescue Mission, Tri-CountyHealthDepartment,FieldsFoundation I ts definitely trying and uncertain times for every- and World Kitchen. with Eat Right Caterers who oneastheCOVID-19virusspreads,businessesThe Skippers work that reopened are struggling to survive, just as manyarecontractedwithWorldKitchentopreparehot families are barely making it. meals, which includes healthy vegetables, a starch So what do you think the homeless man or womanand protein. The meals are then prepackaged, hot, you see every day when driving down Colfax is goingreadytoeatanddelivereddowntoLivingWater through? Ministry team to pass out to the homeless along the TheyarethankfulforLivingWaterMinistriesstretch of Colfax that runs through Aurora.Outreach coming out each day to feed them. We dont even touch the food because of the virus TheministryfoundedbyMarkandDemetriagoingaround.Thatswhytheycomealreadypre-Skipper have made it their mission to hand out hotpackaged, adds Mark.mealsandothersuppliestothehomelessalongTheCOVID-19virusalsoimpactedmorepeople Colfax in Aurora every day of the week. being homeless because of lack of job opportunities. They also provide meals for more than 100 seniorsThey would line up to get a ticket to go to job sitesand then another 35 years living on the streets.at Fletcher Gardens and Village Creek in Aurora. through Day Labor. Those individuals were able toThats how our ministry started is I was going upuse that money to pay to stay at hotels along Colfax.Hiswife,Demetria,haddivorcedherfirsthus-and down Colfax handing out (bottles) of water to theBut when the jobs slowed down through Day Labor,band, left her job and received unemployment. But homeless, explains Mark Skipper after co-foundingthose individuals had to leave the hotels and endedwhen that ran out she too found herself homeless.the ministry with his wife, Demetria back in 2016.up out on the streets.The stigma of mental health needs to be removed, He said his ministrys goal is to feed the homelessWeve seen once you get into that cycle and bond- especially in the black community. There needs to andhungry,andhelpthemmakethattransitionage how hard it is to come out, states Demetria. Ifbe more resources for them. They run out of their from homelessness to living in a home. we came out of that cycle, we can uplift and encour- medications and self-medicate by turning to drugs While homeless tent cities are evident in the parkage others on how to come out. and alcohol, she emphasizes.across from our state capital building, they continueShefurtherexplainsthatmostpeoplethatareBesidesfeedingthehomeless,theLivingWater popping up in other suburban cities outside Denver. homelesshavementalhealthissues.MorementalOutreachMinistrygivesoutmasksandpersonal Demetriasaystherearemoreandmorehome- health services are needed and its being ignored inhygiene items.less people in Aurora. You see them off Dallas andgetting homeless individuals help.But they are in need of more socks, T-shirts, and Colfax streets, under bridges off 6th and Sable, offNoonewakesuptosayIwanttobeadrugpersonal hygiene items to be donated to give to the Mississippi and I-225. addict or alcoholic today. Everyone has PSTD (Posthomeless.Weve seen a need, she expresses regarding theTraumaticStressDisorder)orsomeotherformofIf you wish to help out call 720-692-0748 or 303-increase in the number of meals given out on a dailyanxiety or depression, according to Mark. We dont601-7440orgotothewebsite:www.livingwater-basis. know the things these people have gone through. ministry-outreach.org they have a food bank at The The ministrys food and other supplies comes fromHe knows firsthand in being captive to homeless- OpportunityCenterat1445DaytonSt.AuroraCO. ness. He served his country by being in the militaryfrom 4 - 5on Saturday onlyBODY OF CHRIST NEWS AUGUST 2020 15'