Teens shown here (Zach, Kellie, Kaine, Beth, Sam, Laura, Alyssa, Pat, Jesi) were homeless for 22 hours. They are shown with all they possessed, ready to walk to Twin Oaks Homeless Shelter for a tour, after getting their box village set up to sleep in for the night. Click on the thumbnail photo for a larger version.

TOURING TWIN OAKS SHELTER FOR THE HOMELESS - THE LIBRARY FACILITY. Twin Oaks Shelter is the ONLY homeless shelter in Walworth County. We learned that people without homes can stay here for a 3 month period, while searching for jobs, homes and finding assistance to live elsewhere. Twin Oaks Shelter only houses about 30 - 35 residents at one time, and there are waiting lists for the rooms - sometimes for months! Click on the thumbnail photo for a larger version.

TOURING TWIN OAKS SHELTER - ONE OF THE LARGER ROOMS FOR UP TO 6 PEOPLE. The rooms at Twin Oaks have beds and dressers, and a bathroom. Many are smaller than our own rooms at home, and yet as many as 6 people sometimes are housed there. Our tour included the office area, library, food pantry, community kitchen, playground, laundry room, and storage shed. Click on thumbnail photo for a larger version.

TOURING TWIN OAKS SHELTER - THE FOOD PANTRY AT THE SHELTER. The weekend manager at Twin Oaks showed us where families who are housed there can come and get free food for their families. The shelves looked pretty bare to us for as many people who were housed there. Click on the thumbnail photo for a larger version of it.

AM I MY BROTHER'S (SISTER'S) KEEPER? YES, WE ARE! Words to a music video that we started the event with said, "I will be my brother's keeper, not the one who judges him..." After seeing how low the food pantry at the shelter was, instead of giving the food that was collected to our Christ Church Food Pantry, the teens voted to give it all to Twin Oaks. "WHATEVER YOU DID FOR THE LEAST OF THESE, YOU DID FOR ME." Click on the thumbnail for a larger version of the picture.

SETTING UP THE HOMELESS BOX VILLAGE IN THE CITY DUMP SECTION. The homeless teens slept outside in the front yard of the church, in boxes covered with plastic, to bring awareness to passerbys of the Benefit for Twin Oaks Shelter and the plight of the hungry and homeless. Click on the smaller thumbnail picture for a larger version.

SETTING UP THEIR "HOMES" FOR THE 22 HOUR EVENT. The homeless teens spent the night in boxes (this year it didn't rain or snow!), they were able to scrounge for stale bread, and had water available to them, but unlike the youth leaders, who were housed in the "residential section" outside, they did NOT enjoy popcorn, TV, and other goodies. Life is not always fair, and many people never share what they have with others, the homeless teens experienced some of that as well.

NIGHT TIME FALLS ON THE HOMELESS CARDBOARD BOX VILLAGE. The teens spent their night playing cards, talking, keeping warm with candles, knowing their homelessness and going without food was a temporary thing. We learned that every 3.6 seconds someone in the world dies of hunger and that there are 600,000 families in shelters nationwide.

HOMELESS YOUTH IN THEIR BOX HOMES. The teens were pretty comfortable, since it didn't rain this year and the weather was pretty warm. Any inconveniences they experienced were temporary ones. They might have gone to sleep with a few hunger pangs, but not at all like the ONE BILLION people who go to sleep every night hungry. We learned that every year 15 MILLION children die from hunger. (click on the thumbnail picture for a larger version)

GOD CALLING! Youth Group members received a cell phone call from "God" again during the event. Funny thing, He had a southern accent! During our bible study we recalled that God does call us to action ... "For I was hungry and you gave me some food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.... whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me." (Matthew 25:35-40) Click on the thumbnail picture for a larger version.

FATHER BILL VISITS THE HOMELESS TEENS. Later in the evening, Fr. Bill stopped in to give moral support to the teens and thank them for their efforts. We also learned about some of the ways that Christ Church ministries help those who need assistance, and ways we could help in the community as well. (click on the thumbnail picture for a larger version.)

YOUTH LEADERS RELAX IN THE RESIDENTIAL SECTION. Bill relaxes on his cot in the screened in section of the "residential homes". Roberta and Bill both enjoyed the conveniences of home ... TV, food, beds and more, while the homeless youth spent their time in the "city dump" section. The homeless often experience injustices in their lives, but God calls us to help those less fortunate than ourselves.

HUNGER IN THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES. A scoop of rice is a whole day's worth of food for some. We watched a video about hunger and homelessness in third world countries, while eating a small bowl of rice....which we found for many is all the food they get for a day or longer.

GROCERIES AND DINNER MEAL DELIVERY TO TWIN OAKS SHELTER AT THE CLOSE OF OUR EVENT. The teens put together sub sandwiches, chips, cookies, apples, carrots and beverages for the residents at Twin Oaks Shelter, as well as delivered the canned foods they had collected door to door on Saturday. They also surveyed area businesses, collected more pledges and promoted awareness of Twin Oaks Shelter. (click on the thumbnail picture for a larger version.)

THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO SPONSORED AND PLEDGED TO THE YOUTH GROUP FOR THE BENEFIT OF TWIN OAKS SHELTER FOR THE HOMELESS. AND THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO DONATED CANNED FOOD FOR THE FOOD DRIVE TOO. THANKS TO THE JOINT EFFORTS OF MANY WE HAVE RAISED OVER $1100.00 FOR THE HOMELESS SHELTER. We are still taking donations for the shelter, if you wish to make a donation please call the church office at 262-728-5292.