Homeless get some help

Beauty was in the air Monday night at the First Baptist Church on Main Street and it wasn’t in snowflake form.

This was a different kind of beauty.

“It gives me an extremely warm feeling to see people in the community take time out of their busy lives to help the needy,” said John Norton of Hampton, a case manager with United Services, a behavioral health center with offices in northeastern Connecticut. “It’s beautiful what I see. I hope it spreads like a disease - a good disease.”

In true holiday spirit, various organizations and individuals gathered to provide a holiday celebration for the less fortunate as part of National Homeless Persons Memorial Day, a holiday remembering those who have died from various causes related to homelessness.

National Homeless Memorial Day is sponsored by the Homeless Council and the National Coalition for the Homeless.

According to the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, more than 4,100 people in Connecticut were living on the street or in shelters due to issues that include a lack of access to health care, no affordable housing and unemployment.

Locally, the event was sponsored by Generations Family Health Center Inc., a nonprofit organization based in Willimantic with offices in Norwich and Danielson.

David of Willimantic, who did not want to provide his last name, comes to the church almost every night for meals.

David, who became homeless after getting into an accident while driving a tractor-trailer, was fortunate enough to find someone to live with.

“I’m very appreciative of the services they provide for people in hard times,” he said.

David Fenn, executive director of the Windham No Freeze Hospitality Center on Main Street, said this year’s larger crowd is attributed to the addition of the health fair.

In year’s past, they only held a memorial service.

“I’d say we helped more people than usual this year,” Fenn said. “I think incorporating this kind of service and health fair broadens the services we do. If nothing else, we’ve given people haircuts, at the very least.”

The free haircut station was one of the most popular stations at the event.
The haircuts were done by three volunteers, one of whom - an 85-year-old named Henry Bertora - used to own a hair salon in Mansfield. Fenn said Bertora gave five haircuts.

“We’ve given 22 haircuts or so, and we still have a half hour left,” said Leigh Duffy of Generations.

Another popular draw was the community gifting area, two tables with an assortment of items donated by the community, such as scarves, fleece blankets and books.

“Our gifting table is pretty empty and that was pretty full at (3 p.m.),” Duffy said.

One of the volunteers, Sam Dillon, a 24-year-old mental health-care worker and volunteer at the no-freeze shelter, said he was pleased with the event’s turnout.

“It seems to be a success,” Dillon said. “It’s nice to see people coming together.”

Dillon, who lives in Willimantic, said the most popular gifts at the gifting table were the scarves and fleece blankets.

In addition to the holiday events, various organizations participated in a health fair.

The Access Agency, a nonprofit agency serving Windham and Tolland counties, was one of the organizations involved.

One of Access’ most popular programs is the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, designed to help families, individuals and seniors with low- or moderate-incomes file their taxes.

“It’s another way to give people in the community money they are entitled to without them having to pay for it,” said Jorge Hernandez, director of community engagement at Access.

Hernandez said the program helped bring in close to $1 million last year.

The health fair was followed by a Christmas feast of chicken, rice, salad, potatoes and garlic bread.

The church holds a dinner every Monday and most other weeknights.

“You can see how many people in this little town, were it not for tonight, would not be fed,” Fenn said.

Fenn said the meals would not be possible if it wasn’t for the Rev. Fred Shapiro, who offered some inspirational words before the feast began.

“My message is to keep believing in yourself and God’s love for you,” Shapiro said.

The memorial service following the dinner honored people in the community who died from causes related to homelessness in the past year.

Fenn said three of these people, two of whom died because of car accidents, were in housing when they died.

“Tonight is a good way to remember all the people that have suffered,” Fenn said.