Camping out to help the homeless

Roger is a homeless vet, he served in the Persian Gulf and the Iraq War. He was wounded in battle and they removed part of his stomach. Roger works part-time as night janitor at a local grocery store. He is likable, though he suffers from PTSD.

This year my fifth annual homeless campout will be held Friday, Dec. 5, at St. Pius X Church, Sixth and Haycraft, Coeur d'Alene, starting at 5 p.m. and lasting throughout the night. This is a connect event, where generous members of our community are invited to bring canned goods, sleeping bags, tarps, jackets, and warm clothing to help the homeless, like Roger, this winter.

I camp out all night to bring attention to what it's like to be homeless.

After my event, the donations will be distributed by me directly to: Cherished One Ministries (Kevin Kram, 704-0908), which provides meals and services to the homeless for more than l4 years; and The Commons (Brad, 208-9l6-0328), where meals are given as well as a Christian based recovery program.

My friends at the Altar Church help provide a free meal for everyone at my event, including the homeless who are also invited. Come and meet some nice people like Roger who I have invited to help me.

I will entertain with my guitar on Dec. 5. Recently, I went to the Commons to play guitar. I loaned my guitar to a young woman named Ocean, who I thought would maybe play one song. I was upstaged by Ocean, who plays and sings like an angel. Ocean stole the show - I witnessed 20 people in the room become spellbound as she sang songs of her struggles and triumphs. Tears filled my eyes. I used to struggle with depression; fortunately I had a loving family that helped me. Some of the homeless have NO family, so they rely on each other.

At Halloween many pumpkins were brought to the Commons so each person could carve their own pumpkin. Richard proudly showed me his carefully sculptured pumpkin. He said, "Steve, this is the first time I have ever carved a pumpkin."

"What one man takes for granted, another man is praying for." What's it like to go hungry?

As you bring donations to my camp out, I encourage people to be that pebble that is dropped in the ocean, that then makes a ripple. "I have never seen anyone become poor by giving" - Anne Frank.

There are many misconceptions about the homeless - such as all these people need is a bus ticket to the next town. Well, 80 percent of the people are from Cd'A. The heartbreaker is that 25 percent of our homeless are children, and 12 percent are vets who proudly served our country.

Coeur d'Alene is no longer the community where I grew up with plentiful jobs in the timber and mining industry. We have become a community of contrasts, with some people living comfortably in million-dollar homes, while some of our young people live with their parents, and end up working a 20-hour week, minimum wage job.

"We can do no great things, only small things with great love" - Mother Teresa.

Come join me and my assistants this Friday at St. Pius X Church, bring your donations (clean out your closet), then enjoy food, entertainment, a warm fire outside and fellowship.

Steve Bell is a Coeur d'Alene resident.