Community should support Ray of Hope Street Ministry
To the Editor:
Is the McMinnville area aware of what they are about to lose? I am writing to you to let you know that McMinnville?s only homeless and drug and alcohol program is on the way out of our community because of a lack of support. Ray of Hope Street Ministry, located at 124 Hobson Street, is in the process of moving to Cookeville by Dec. 31, 2006.
This is a resource our city and county has had for the last four years that our sister cities in Sparta, Smithville and Manchester did not have. Our homeless could seek shelter there when the weather changes for the worse. I know a lot of people in our fair city would like to turn a blind eye to the possibility of our county having a homeless population located here, but this is not possible to ignore any longer.
Also because of the drug problems that are already in the community where will people who seek help turn to now, because the large majority of them do not have insurance, in trying to turn the corner and become productive citizens once again?
The churches in our community have not supported this Christian-based recovery center because of religious doctrine issues. At least this is the only conclusion I can come to for the lack of support. They have all been notified of the needs of the ministry on several occasions.
Only four or five churches sporadically have given any support for the vast members our religious family in our county. Ray of Hope has tried to make it on its own volition for the past four years, but as Christ told his disciples to go out in twos and dust their feet of cities that would not support them, the ministry is being forced to do the same.
I am afraid that the community will not know what is has lost until it is gone. I hope that some last second responses of serious financial backing can prevent this loss from occurring.
Steven Hawn
Hobson Street
McMinnville