Homeless Outreach
I want to share a personal project that has been about 6 months or more in the working. I, along with my friend Kristi, have started a homeless outreach at our home church RIVER OF LIFE I am hoping that by sharing this it may inspire some of you to donate items as we are in great need of that, or to come join us as a volunteer.
I want to throw out a disclaimer before I show you the album we put together. I am a photographer. Photography is my passion. I normally shoot pretty things, like weddings, babies and clean happy families. But everyone has a story even if it's not happy and pretty. I also have a passion for My God and His people so I wanted to find a way to use the gift that The Lord has given me, to bring light to some darkness that I have encountered during the time I spent with other homeless outreaches.
I took these images with permission of each person and I was sensitive and respectful to the them. I was not on a field trip and I was not alone. I was always with a trained team of volunteers from other churches. Since a picture is worth thousand words it was my hope to bring the images back to our church and let people see what they would be volunteering to walk in to.
And that is just what I did. I am proud of my church that so many have offered to come out, donate items and pray over the lives that we hope to touch as well as our new ministry.
To view the whole collection of images click the link below and click each image to turn the page. Please contact me if you'd like to be a part of this outreach or donate items csutberry@gmail.com
Click here to view the images in pdf form.
12 comments:
Such touching work! Putting faces and stories for us to relate with and feel for. We hear of these tent cities on the news, but never really see them. We see the panhandlers on the corners, but we never really look at their faces. Faces tell so much about the struggles these people go through, just to survive another day. Thank you Chantel for being so brave to step out of the comfort zone so many of us fear, and telling their story. Thank you for blessing us with your kindness and inspiration! The world needs more people like YOU! ♥
wonderful post :-)
Chantel, I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes looking at the photos & reading the story behind it all. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. I think it's such a shame that half of the homeless are veterans & our government does nothing for them anymore. God bless you & your church for reaching out to them when nobody else is. I would love to donate some clothes & coats to you. Thank you again for posting photos & blogging about this issue in our area. What an eye opener.
Great work Chantel, I mean that in a humanitarian sense. The photos are great as well, you can read some of the people's story on their face. I'm sure they appreciate what you are doing. Thanks for being an inspiration for God.
Don Hawkins
Chantel, such a touching post and I believe this might be your best work yet. Don't get me wrong all the of the other pictures you have taken are outstanding but these truly tell a story that most of us don't think about often enough. And as another person commented - it is very sad that most of these people are US Veterans. Also with the economic slide we have witnessed over the past couple of years any of us could be in the same position. Do you have a list of supplies your church is collecting?
I am touched after reading this post and getting lost in the photos. There is so much soul in these eyes and yet people seem to treat them like they are not human. Thank you for what you are doing. God has truly blessed you with an amazing talent and huge heart. Please let me know what you are collecting and I will donate and spread the world. Many blessings!
Chantel, like you I love photography...have always known I have a creative side but never really knew what it was until I picked up a camera. Mine is more of a hobby...but u inspire me. I love ur work, I read ur blogs faithfully...this by far is the best yet. We find our purpose in doing the things we love!
Chantel, you have captured these souls in such a manner that makes us give thanks for the things we have, and not the things we want. We often take the little things for granted when other don't have the essential things needed just to survive. This is a very powerful documentary and clearly with the help of God and your ministry all good things will indeed be accomplished. Congratulations Chantel this is top notch work.
Hey I have some men's shirts XL and a king size headboard and frame with matching dresser and mirror. And twin bed frame
Chantel I am truly touched by this article. May God bless you and the lives you have touched through this outreach program! Very inspiring!
Great images. Thanks for posting them.
Wow these r incredible
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