The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Homeless Stand Down offers aid in city
For Earl Noel, the Homeless Stand Down Oct. 25 was greatly appreciated.
“People don’t understand how important love is,” the Lorain resident said. “Knowing we have this support is more important than people think.”
The event at Sacred Heart Chapel in Lorain offered free haircuts, nail care, breakfast and other free services for veterans and homeless in the area.
“We wanted to provide services that aren’t always readily available to some people,” said Kathy Burns, a member of the Lorain County Homeless Task Force. “These are services that many people take for granted, but are very important to those who don’t always get them.”
She said the event also provided hats, gloves, socks, toiletries, a warm lunch, housing services, Ohio Means Jobs, Genesis House, and health screenings.
“The event gives people hope,” Burns said. “We want to supply some of their basic human needs and let them know help is available.”
A donation for some of the event’s free winter clothes came from an unlikely source, according to Christine Robinson, another member of the task force.
“I was at a Walmart in Euclid buying one of the batches of clothes for the event,” she said. “I was at the register when a man asked me what the clothes were for. After I told him about the event he swiped his credit card and covered the entire cost, roughly $207, for the entire batch of clothes.”
Robinson said she was overwhelmed by the man’s level of generosity.
“That’s what makes Stand Downs so special,” she said. “We pull together to make life better for those around us.”
Gilberto Quinones, known as “Pito da Barber,” was one of the barbers cutting hair at the event and was glad to be a part of it.
“I’m glad I can provide this service for these people,” he said. “Some of these guys have helped me out at my shop (Headlinerz Barbershop) by sweeping the floor and stuff like that. It’s the least I can do.”
Willie Flowers, a veteran from Elyria, said he’s glad these events are put on.
“These events are really nice,” he said. “It’s something where people are using their hearts before their heads. I lost my mother recently and it’s events like these that help make my life easier.”