Hundreds of unhoused neighbors in the Fredericksburg area won’t have to face the holidays empty-handed, thanks to community leaders Reedema Rock and Sharon Kelley, who are delivering essential support ahead of Thanksgiving.
Kelley, the pastor of Action Church, and Rock teamed up through their nonprofit organizations, Propelling Hands and I Am Royalty, to feed and clothe unhoused people living in and around the Super 8 and America’s Best hotels on Route 17 in Stafford County this past Saturday.
Those individuals received hats, gloves, coats and McDonald’s gift cards. The two philanthropic leaders even paid for hotel rooms for several individuals during the Thanksgiving holiday.
Kelley and Rock recalled a grandmother who lives with her two grandchildren in one of the hotels.
“We bring them a lot of care packages, and they distribute them to all the homeless people along Warrenton Road,” Rock explained. “The homeless are family. If one of them is stocked up on supplies, they give to the next.”
Just 48 hours later, on Monday evening, Rock and Kelley were at it again, feeding the homeless at St. George Episcopal Church on Princess Anne Street in Fredericksburg.
Jake DeNap, St. George’s director of mission and evangelism, was thrilled to collaborate with Action Church and I Am Royalty for a third straight year. The groups also handed out free blankets this year.
“This was a great collaboration and shows a snapshot of our community when we show up for each other,” DeNap said Monday night while serving 150 homeless people. He also noted that the homeless are fed seven days a week at one of the many Micah Ministries churches in downtown Fredericksburg.
DeNap took pride in Monday’s event, which included participation from more than five organizations working to bring holiday cheer to the homeless. There was enough food to serve more than 200 people, and DeNap was pleased that attendees could enjoy second helpings.
“These dinners are the conduit to relationships. People can get a meal while connecting with resources,” he said.
“Tonight was very fulfilling,” Kelley said, during prayer and fellowship. “I saw so many faces. Everybody’s spirits were lifted, and I was happy we had more to give this year. But that just shows there is an even greater need.”
“This is so wonderful, so much love was shown to us today,” said Denisha Baker, who received a meal and resources Monday. “These types of events are godly; they show how much people care about the homeless. I don’t want them to ever stop doing this for us.”
Added Kelley: “When people say things like this, it shows that even a little can help a lot.”
As a community outreach specialist, Rock was glad to be able to give so much this year, noting that supplies had run out last year. Rock’s young helper, Heather Nichols, started her day at 6 a.m., assisting Rock with putting together book bags for the homeless.
Individuals received backpacks stocked with many winter essentials.
The bags were filled with a variety of necessities: hats, coats, gloves, emergency blankets, lotion, hand warmers, scarves and Chick-fil-A gift cards.
Early Tuesday morning, Rock and Kelley donated the remaining supplies to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office stores the supplies, and the Stafford R.I.S.E. organization helps distribute them to those in need across multiple communities, including wooded areas where homeless individuals live.
Many organizations came together Monday to show love for the homeless, including volunteers from Piney Branch Baptist Church in Spotsylvania, the Fredericksburg Christian Car Club and FXBG Free Closet, which provided the clothing for the homeless Monday night.
Going for the trifecta, Rock will feed the homeless Thanksgiving Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Fredericksburg’s Thurman Brisben Center. Food will be served at noon.
“I’m happy my family will help me serve other families,” she said.
