Homeless Shelter Feels The Love

Augusta, GA—Augusta Rescue Mission’s known for serving the homeless through different programs and fellowship, but Saturday kicked off something that was a first for them, and something that they’ll continue for years to come.

Cooked with love…this Valentine’s Day feast was more than enough for the hungry, and homeless.

Anthony Hightower, Augusta:  “I think it’s wonderful because, you know, a lot of cities don’t have this.”

For the first time ever, Augusta Rescue Mission served hundreds this Valentine’s Day.

Ty Lochridge, Executive Director, Augusta Rescue Mission: “Today is a day where, even if anything goes wrong, nothing’s going to go wrong. Because, today is just a fun day where we’re all going to come together and just, with pure joy, just share and love on other people.”

Caleb and Jonah Shafner are two brothers who spent the day volunteering, but are also on the receiving end…both staying at the Augusta Rescue Mission shelter.

Caleb Shafner, lives at Augusta Rescue Mission Shelter: “It’s a real rewarding experience because, like I said, just 6 or 7 months ago, I couldn’t imagine I could have been here. You know it was a completely different life, and I was kind of a parasite to society, I guess.”

Jonah Shafner, lives at Augusta Rescue Mission Shelter: “It means a lot because you’ve got to understand that I didn’t exactly do my part in society, before I was a detriment to society. And now to be able to help and do my part, it feels great, really.”

Everything served was donated, right down to the Valentines, made by a local 2nd grade class.

Eric McCoy, staying at Augusta Rescue Mission Shelter: “It makes me feel good that there are people out there who care about, you know, the little man.”

Homeless, Eric McCoy has only been in Augusta for 3 days, but says with the love he’s seen already, there is a sign of hope.

McCoy: “It’s a struggle, it will get better, you know, you’ve just got to take one day at a time, just for today.”

They expected nearly 500 people to show up, Saturday afternoon. When they served Thanksgiving dinner, they had nearly 1,500 people.

The director says January has been their busiest month recently.