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Church notices younger homeless demographic during holiday outreach events

"You're seeing a younger group of homeless that is surfacing now. You're seeing more kids and that's the thing that's always shocking."

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - A Little Rock church offered an early Thanksgiving meal and much more to people who need a helping hand. They’ve been doing this for 15 years now and Pastor Glenn Hersey said every year is similar.

“The need is always great,” Hersey said.

But, the faces are changing.

“You’re seeing a younger group of homeless that is surfacing now. You’re seeing more kids and that’s the thing that’s always shocking,” Hersey said.

Hersey said about 200 people got help at this year’s Feast of Hope at Little Rocks Saint Mark Baptist Church.

“Providing them a sleeping bag and blanket and coats and gloves and hats and all those things just to help them survive,” Hersey said.

They provide a warm Thanksgiving meal and much more.

“It can be kind of lonely through this time of year. You know, this is the time of year we’re all expected to be happy,” attendee Kasey Henderson said.

Several community organizations meet the church to offer everything from resume help and job assistance to hygiene products.

“We don’t really have enough information out there on where to get your GED, where to help with legal services. You know, getting your haircut. Something that simple,” Henderson said.

For the church, providing convenience is important.

“They won’t have to travel so far to get those means so if we can provide those things here for them then they wouldn’t have to travel around the city to get the job awareness or job assistance,” co-leader Brandy Hughes said.

For some, a new haircut is all they need to believe in themselves. The clothes, jewelry, and medical help are all free.

“Having all those different organizations to come in and help us, it’s a blessing,” Hughes said.

The church offers these services on a smaller scale every fourth Saturday of the month. They hope to soon be able to offer help weekly.

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