Midtown Fellowship hosts fourth-annual party at shelter
Glenn Martin thinks he and the rest of Columbia’s homeless population are normally overlooked, but Sunday was different.
A group of USC students with Midtown Fellowship had come to Transitions, a homeless shelter downtown — where Martin, 55, lives — for a Super Bowl party.
“It’s wonderful that they take the time to do something for us,” he said. “It’s a great experience, and it helps to know that at least someone is thinking about you.”
Martin has been homeless since last April. He lost his job after an expensive battle with cancer and could no longer afford housing, he said.
“It seems to be a huge issue, especially with people my age,” Martin said.
In June 2012, there were 664 homeless people in shelters in Richland County, including 252 children, according to the South Carolina Council on Homelessness. That number’s down from 1,065 in January 2011, according to the group’s homelessness counts.
But that’s still too high, said Rick Stone, a fourth-year public health student and volunteer leader for Midtown, so the congregation has tried to do what it can to help with the problem.
“As a church we want to love our city,” Stone said.
This is the fourth year that Midtown has hosted a Super Bowl viewing party at Transitions, and residents of the shelter said they recognized the supportive effort.
“We appreciate all the work the church has put in and done for us,” said Jarvis Richburg, who lives at Transitions.
Richburg has been homeless for the last four months and hopes to find stable housing soon. He feels not enough is being done to help the homeless in Columbia, especially with rehabilitation.
“More steps should be taken, especially for the people who are really trying to better themselves,” he said. “There are lots of people here with great talent, but they need a little help, they can’t do it on their own.”
But Richburg had other concerns, too. He’s from Baltimore, and his affiliations were clear Sunday when Joe Flacco connected with Anquan Boldin for the Ravens’ first touchdown, as he erupted with a cheer.
Kristina Rabon, another volunteer leader who has attended Midtown Fellowship for a year and a half, said the party fit into the church’s focus on giving back.
“Everyone is willing to jump in and serve the community,” she said.