COLOMBIA, Mississippi (WDAM) – Temperatures are dropping and local first responders are trying to help those most in need.
Colombian police hope to bring in several homeless people this weekend to provide shelter from the extreme cold.
“When you’re patrolling at night, you’ll notice people laying in doorways, trying to get out of the wind or whatever,” Deputy Michael Turner said. and try to get out of the elements as much as possible.”
Turner feels that the homeless are stigmatized, but that’s not always accurate.
“Not every homeless person you see is a criminal or drug user or whatever,” Turner said. “Some people are out of luck and have nowhere else to go.”
In addition to the shelter, CPD will also host a soup kitchen at the station on Fridays from 11am to 1pm.
“Just pull into a parking space and an attendant will come out to see how many people are in your car and what you need,” Chief Michael Kelly said. “Blankets, gloves, a toboggan, a child’s toy or two he brings and prepares hot soup.”
Kelly said this is one of the many ways his army can give back to the community.
“We’re people they can trust,” Kelly said. “We’re part of a community. We’re not just criminals, but we really want to serve.”
Resources are limited, so Kelly asked people to leave food for those who need it most.
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