New Respite Center coming to Trulight Ministries

MUSKINGUM COUNTY, Ohio- Trulight Ministries received a $50,000 grant from the Straker Charitable Foundation and will begin working on a new project for the homeless.

A new respite center will be located at Trulight Ministries. With the money, a longue, showers, free laundry and lockers will be added to the center.

“For the homeless to come in, get off the streets, especially in the winter time when they have no place to go and so it will kind of be like a warming station for them in the winter. The room can also be utilized for other things, AA meetings, rehab meetings and that kind of stuff,” Pastor and Executive Director of Trulight Ministries Ed Swartz said.

The respite center will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. after breakfast is served through the Billy Graham Feeding Program. Foot lockers will allow those to store and secure important documents to prevent them from damage. Showers and laundry will provide personal hygiene practices.

“There have been homeless that stay up in the woods and sleep in tents and there have been some that have come in and it has been weeks since they’ve gotten a shower or gotten cleaned up. When you get them a shower, it really builds their self esteem, it really makes them feel like they can be acceptable again in society,” Swartz said.

Trulight Ministries will also have snacks and food available. The center is looking to be accessible by winter. Donations are appreciative for future projects. Volunteers are always welcomed and if you’re interested in helping out, you can contact Ed on the Trulight Ministries Facebook page or website.