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First United Methodist Church of Lakeland is engaging in a new partnership with Dream Center of Lakeland to provide public shower facilities catering to people experiencing homelessness. The church announced the news in a press release July 18.
“As a church rooted in the love of Christ, we believe every person,regardless of their circumstances, deserves dignity,” said Rev. Dr. Charley Reeb, senior pastor of First United Methodist Church, in the release.
“This project is about more than plumbing and concrete. It’s about restoring humanity, offering hope and affirming that no one is forgotten.
“We are called to serve, to love and to walk alongside our community in tangible, meaningful ways.”
The dignity of a shower
Dream Center of Lakeland Executive Director Michael Cooper said the new facility will allow his organization to serve more people.
“There are many Lakeland natives who have fallen on hard times,’ Cooper said. “While we are not a residential program, we don’t want someone to miss out on a helpful program because of access to basic hygiene.
“The dignity of a shower heightens their self-esteem, increases health, and allows everyone to comfortably be in the same space together to support one another.”
The Dream Center’s role
The Dream Center is a community resource center that provides mentoring programs for kids and teens and educational programs for low-income community members. It also offers food and clothing distributions and community meals. It encompasses a gym, cafe, clinic, classrooms, pavilion and a food and clothing pantry.
The shower facility will be built on the Dream Center’s campus and will be free to use.
Construction is expected to be completed by October, according to the news release.
The facility will have men’s and women’s restrooms on both sides and a private shower area in the middle. It will be a separate facility on the Dream Center campus.
“Those desiring to use the shower will come to the main building, request entrance, and at that time will be given a towel and soap. For safety, only one person will have access to a shower at a time, (and)… accessibility will be available during program operation hours only,” Cooper explained, adding that the facility will be locked at night.
First United Methodist steps up
First United Methodist Church of Lakeland contributed $17,000 to the project.
“First United Methodist Church has been a consistent partner of the Dream Center during the past couple of years. They really stepped up this time. Their gift was unexpected and timely,” Cooper said.
The church also partners with other organizations, such as The Talbot House, Lighthouse Ministries and The Salvation Army, which serve low-income communities and the homeless.
Letting love flow
“We know this: Jesus loves the women and men who will sleep on our streets tonight just as much as those who live in earthly mansions. When we fail to let that kind of love flow through us to them, we’re missing the very essence of the Gospels,” Rev. Dr. Reeb said in the release.
He added that the project aligns with The United Methodist Church’s Social Principles, which state people have a right to live in dignity, safety, and free of dehumanizing effects of poverty.
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I think it wonderful they are setting up showers for the homeless we need to set up wash areas for their cloths as well there is nothing like having a shower and clean cloths to put on I have always wanted to open a facility to cater to the homeless to set it up for them to stay at least 4 to 6 months to help them get set up for their funding location for them to go online and apply for benefits and resources to help them be able to get back and live a normal life again .
Thank you Stephanie Claytor, Dream Center and First United Methodist Church for recognizing, acknowledging and taking action to this project that will truly be “the best thing that happened today” for many who feel unnoticed, even invisible and the sense of normalcy is a distant memory.
Remember, not all who wander are lost.
I pray the new homeless shelter and this dedicated shower will lift the spirits of those who have found themselves (for whatever reason) where they are and inspire them to learn how to live again and find purpose in life.
May God be glorified and may he bless all involved.
Yay!! Thank you Lakeland
I Marianne Moselle have therapy horses and have been ministering that way for 25 years Would love to be a part of what you all are doing