Cold Hands, Warm Hearts is creating a sanctuary for marginalized people in Loudon County by offering warm meals, warm clothes and a place to feel safe.
The initiative began roughly two years ago in a Sunday School class at Calvary Baptist Church near Downtown Lenoir City. In the beginning days, snacks and hot drinks were offered to homeless people traveling through town and eventually grew to take-away sack meals for anyone in need.
Now, after two years of serving the community, Cold Hands, Warm Hearts offers three hot meals a week to local families or individuals in need. There aren’t any requirements or a sign-up list to enjoy the meals … just show up on Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. or Saturday and Sunday from 5 to 8 p.m. at 300 W 1st Avenue C Street, Lenoir City 37771.
‘WE DON’T SAY NO’
Christy Via, program director, said that volunteers serve about 300 people a week through Cold Hands, Warm Hearts. Of those 300 people, many are homeless, some are in situations having to choose between paying certain bills and eating dinner, and some are elderly community members who have come up on hard times.
Nonetheless, Via and the rest of the volunteers don’t ask questions; they just serve the community with open arms.
“We’ve always made it so anyone can come in and have a meal,” Via said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a family that is in need or whatever.
“We don’t say ‘no’ … it just is (serving) this group of people.
“It’s anybody that is needing a meal, they are welcome to come in and fellowship — and we can help in the ways that we can for them.”
Cold Hands, Warm Hearts isn’t established as a nonprofit organization, volunteers work under the church’s umbrella and are able to continue doing so thanks to community donations of clothing, food items, hygiene products, first aid and money.
Volunteers have set up the church annex as a gathering place to fellowship, and have included areas for people to “shop” for supplies they may need and a private fitting room stocked with feminine products, including undergarments and specific hygiene care products, for comfortability and extra privacy.
Many of the people who come on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays are seeking friendly faces, as well as a warm meal.
“Sometimes (our participants) just want somebody to listen to them or to give them a hug and say, you know, we’re praying for you,” Via said. “If we can get this community to come together like the area communities around, it would be a huge help with (what we do), and that’s all we’re asking … Just acknowledge them.”
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
At a recent Lenoir City Council meeting, Councilwoman Robin McNabb proposed warming (and cooling) centers to the Council — stating that there is a large population in the city that is overlooked and in need.
McNabb came across the Cold Hands, Warm Hearts Facebook page last fall, which was the catalyst for her proposition, hoping to better serve an overlooked population in the area.
“I think that speaks to the need that this community has for a location where people who do not have heat can come when the temperatures are freezing and then likewise during the summer when it’s 100 degrees and these folks don’t have air-conditioning and they don’t have a safe place to be that overnight at least or during the heat of the day that we have somewhere that we can keep them safe.
“Keep them alive, really.”
McNabb stated that while there are a few organizations serving this population, the community lacks a cohesive organization organizing efforts so initiatives aren’t duplicated or people aren’t left in gaps.
“We’ve seen there are people, there are churches, there are groups that would like to help. I would like to see the city lead that effort. At least to try to get the community groups together and see if there is a way that we can unite and help the community in a more efficient manner and reach more people,” McNabb said.
Conversation about utilizing the War Memorial Building in Downtown Lenoir City had been circulating before the meeting and during open comments; however, Mayor Tony Aikens said he didn’t think it would be a good idea with how busy that facility’s event schedule is.
Aikens asked Police Chief Don White to add context and additional information from a law enforcement perspective.
“To get the most accurate information, I just went straight to the folks that are out there in the streets every day, 24 hours a day. So I’m with all the shifts just to stay ahead because it does change — depending on the week, depending on the time of year,” Lenoir City’s police chief said.
“In the summertime, we seem to have more transient homeless individuals coming off the interstate, and they tend to stay more toward Exit 81. They usually stick around to collect money, and then they move on.
“Our local folks who live here (and) go in and out of homelessness — they couch surf, live in tents and move around the city. Most of our police officers, as well as our firefighters, know these individuals because we encounter them. We’re out in the middle of the night working, so we see them moving around.
“I just asked them — I went and said, ‘Tell me what you’re seeing right now,’ because, of all people, we’re public servants. We are here to protect every single person that comes into this city. … And I can tell you that they do it with a great level of passion.
“Every year, I’m so proud to find out about things our officers did that we didn’t even know about. I’ll get a letter or a comment from someone about how they bought a tire at Walmart for a passing family that barely had enough money for gas to get to the Virginia (state)line. Or they pooled money together to pay for a hotel room. That happens every year, and it makes me very proud to work for an organization like this. It also makes me proud to know that we live in a city where we actually can do that — where we show up and answer the call, handling each situation based on what the need is.
“We have folks who are homeless and out in this weather who do not want assistance. Every year, we check on them when the temperatures drop. We’ve been doing that all the way back to the ‘90s when I was on midnight shift. It was a very small number of people then, and right now, they’re dealing with fewer than 10.”
After White spoke, Aikens moved to end the meeting without further discussion; however, McNabb questioned the Council, asking if no one else thought it necessary to have a committee or more discussion around the topic, while also acknowledging the good work the Lenoir City Police Department does.
“I had this on the agenda and didn’t realize there wasn’t a vote scheduled,” she said. “But does nobody else on City Council think it’s worth setting up a committee to at least try to marshal resources or determine whether there is a need in the community for these warming centers? I just want to make sure I’m understanding this correctly — because I see two dozen people here who showed up for this meeting, all believing this is necessary.
“I feel like we owe it to them to at least have a meeting, to have a discussion, and to allow these different groups — who have been putting their own money and hours into feeding and housing these people — to have an open conversation.
“I appreciate that Chief White has been very helpful, and the City Police Department is fantastic. I believe everything he says about the officers trying to help. But I also expect there are people who wouldn’t want to have to call the police department to get help out of the cold.
“I feel like we need another alternative — one that doesn’t require going through the police department and hoping there’s a voucher available. We need a dedicated number, a reliable contact — someone available whenever this happens. Not just if there’s a voucher, not just if they speak English — there needs to be a real, accessible solution.
“Why is it not worth forming a committee and holding a public meeting to determine how we can best use the resources already available for the good of the entire community?”
Aikens asked McNabb and the pastors in attendance if they would be willing to serve on a committee and said once more information comes up to let him know, and he will put an item on the agenda for the topic.
NEXT STEPS
In an exclusive interview with The Loudon County News-Herald, McNabb said she hoped there would’ve been a more involved conversation with the entire Council on the topic, but she is grateful a committee is in place to work toward a better solution.
In 2019, Loudon County Commission dispersed funds throughout the county to churches and other organizations to purchase cots and other equipment to aid during harsh weather conditions.
Due to leadership changes and mild winters, the initiative faded and it is unclear as of now if some churches may still have the supplies and are able to help more.
McNabb is currently working to establish more of these community relationships to find a solution. She is also compiling an email distribution list for updates and volunteer coordination.
Councilwoman Robin McNabb can be contacted at robin@robinmcnabblaw.com for questions and how to be involved.
