HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — Aid organizations strive to "meet people where they are."
When it comes to helping people without a home, mobility is often key, but providing all the services they need and staying mobile simultaneously is a challenge.
A group of young people have been preparing to back up the truck to figure out how to make it work.
"It's our duty to when we see somebody in need, not to pass that person, but to stop and lend a helping hand," said Robert Dooms, who along with college friend and fellow church member Rhett Rodgers noticed quite a few people needing help.
"We noticed the homeless population, and how it seemed to continually grow," said Rodgers. "As Christian men, we just wondered where we could serve."
That wondering got an answer as Rodgers cleared land on a farm in Hot Springs, and buried under vines and brush he found a semi-trailer rusting away.
He then called Dooms with an idea to turn the trailer into a shelter for the homeless.
"The first 10 feet [will be] a haircutting station, the middle section as a shower station, and 10 feet as an office," Rodgers said as he described how he planned to partition the trailer after the farm owner said he could have it.
"We're gonna try to triple up and knock three birds out with one stone if we can, Lord willing," he said.
That's how Christian Care Trailers came to be.
"We're mobile and self-sustaining," said Dooms, describing the plan. "We're not gonna have to hook up any power. We'll pull up and be there for 12 hours or so and help anyone and everyone that comes by."
When veterans come by, they get dibs.
"They are our priority," said Rodgers. "If there's a line of 10 to 15, to 50 people, if a veteran comes up and shows us his credentials that he's a veteran, they go straight to the front of the line."
Neither Rodgers nor Dooms is a veteran, but they explained they are inspired by relatives who served, with Dooms, in particular. He said he's learned from his veteran father to look for the special camaraderie that former servicemembers share and serve them when they eventually come around.
"If we can band them together and let them know, 'hey, Christian Care Trailers is here to help you,' maybe it'll give them a little bit more leg up in life and a little more motivation to do better and to get reestablished back into the economy," Dooms described.
The pair both said there is still work to do and money to be raised to get this idea on wheels, but both are focused on their plan and prepared to be patient.
"It's just kind of on God's timing, how he's working this thing out, and his flow and we're trusting his timing," said Rodgers.