Friday at the Dream Center

On Friday’s at the Dream Center we have a support group called ‘Ladies Thrive’. We’ve been hosting it for several weeks, but this week we had record attendance. For the first couple of weeks only our volunteers were there. We would hold the group and pray for the harvest. This week we had five women from the community join us!

We learned about oppression and how God is our only real hope. The ladies were asked what their greatest needs were. All responded that housing and violence were their highest concerns. One lady told us that the day she moved in, her entire block was barricaded because of a drive-by shooting on her street. Two of the other ladies live at the Alamo; a place where violence is constant and murder is common. Another lady, after the group had ended, told us that she was homeless. She used to stay at the Alamo but didn’t have any money right now. She told us that the only clothes she owned were on her back, and she sometimes turned tricks to buy food.

We had the opportunity to send the women home with groceries and diapers. All of them hung around and talked to our volunteers, welcoming the fellowship and prayer. They left with their arms full and smiles on their faces, assuring us that they would return for the next meeting. One of our volunteers took the homeless woman to the thrift store and bought her a couple of outfits. Another volunteer gave her a ride to her brother’s house, a place where she is sometimes allowed to shower and sleep on their couch outside. We took groceries, bedding and a small gift to the brother’s family to thank them for their kindness. They were moved to tears.

After the support group, word got out about the free groceries. People walked up to the Dream Center, some pushing grocery carts, in search of food. Many were hungry, dirty and desperate. We offered them food, prayer and hope. Between noon and 2:30pm we supplied groceries to 21 families in need.

The Dream Center is designed to be an outreach center for people living in north Baton Rouge, but building relationships in that community is difficult. There are issues of trust, racism and religion. The people live in a constant state of suspicion and fear, afraid of both the new and the familiar. I believe that the Dream Center is becoming a beacon of hope. As we continue to feed the people, physically and spiritually, I believe that they are beginning to understand the love of God. With so much oppression, need and desperation, it sometimes feels too big to conquer. I’m so grateful that we serve the One who has already conquered all. All glory to God!