Former Sheriff’s deputy looks to help Putnam homeless

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – A former Muskingum County deputy with the Sheriff’s Office has taken it upon himself to try to help the homeless in the Putnam area.

Ed Swartz worked for the Sheriff’s Office for 19 years until he quit in 2013. Swartz was just six years from retirement when he said he felt a calling from God to help the less fortunate in the Putnam area, a place both he and his wife were born.

Swartz purchased the abandoned bingo hall in January from a Sheriff’s auction. He and his wife Christina hope to make it a place for good in the community.

“What we’d like to do is make it a community outreach center. We want to have a sanctuary where we offer services. We want to offer a full-time kitchen and dinner area where we can offer free food,” said Swartz. “There are class rooms we want to offer to try to help with the homeless situation in the Putnam area. Where they can come and learn how to fill out resumes, do applications, maybe do some job searches online.”

As of now the building is not open so until then Swartz has been holding a Sunday church service and free lunch in the building’s parking lot. James Thaler is looking for employment and has been coming to TruLight Ministries for three weeks and said this place is a blessing.

“I feel welcome when I come here,” said Thaler. “I feel like they are really trying to help us succeed. It’s the jobs that I’m excited about. With my criminal record I need an opportunity to prove myself.”

Swartz said it will be a while until the building is open while they still try to raise funds. To help the Swartz family you can reach TruLight Ministries at their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/trulightministries/?pnref=story.