BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — As it gets colder outside, a pastor in west Michigan is keeping bellies full and bodies warm by distributing food and other needed items to the homeless.
New Hope Apostolic Church Pastor Douglas Fleury said with just $20 he's able to buy around 60 sandwiches and 40 bottles of water to distribute to some of the homeless population in Battle Creek.
"It means everything. I think you know for the other people as well as me, it means everything because it means that somebody cares," said Dan Vaneck, who is currently staying at the SHARE Center.
Vaneck said he's been staying at the SHARE Center for over a couple of weeks. Ever since he's been there, he said Pastor Douglas Fleury from New Hope Apostolic Church has been there everyday.
"The people in need don’t need someone to get out and preach a fiery message to them. If they are hungry, give them a sandwich," said New Hope Apostolic Church Pastor Douglas Fleury.
Sandwiches, chips and even pudding are all things Pastor Fleury brings every single day of the week as he makes multiple stops downtown.
"I think right now I’m just over 6000 sandwiches that we have given out since we’ve started," said Pastor Fleury.
Now that it's getting colder, he brings outwear too.
"After getting to meet them and learning more about them, we suddenly realized some of them needed shoes, some gloves, some needed hats, so we started putting it out on our Facebook page and all sort of donations started coming in," said Pastor Fleury.
Through donations from community members and his congregation, he said it's grown larger than he thought it would.
But he said, it's the huge smiles on their faces that keeps him coming back.
"They know my truck because it makes that 'click, clacking' noise. They know it’s me coming down the road. I just get out and just be kind. I’ve felt like that was my mandate," said Pastor Fleury.
Pastor Fleury's motto is to 'Be Kind'. He said that's what he's doing to even give a slice of hope to someone in need.
"My goal, my heartbeat is that not one of them in my city is in need of anything," said Pastor Fleury.
Pastor Fleury said he's hoping to continue upping his game to provide whatever he can to those in need.
If you'd like to donate or find out how you can help, click here to visit New Hope Apostolic Church's Facebook page.
