Roughly 60 invited guests braved a torrential downpour last Monday evening to attend A Night of Hope to benefit The Source, a Christian-based ministry providing assistance to the poor and homeless in Indian River County.
The catered affair at Northern Trust Bank may have had a somewhat reduced attendance, but those who braved the storm were passionate about the cause. Northern Trust Vice President Susan Chenault pointed out that inclement weather was one of the reasons she volunteers to help clients of organizations such as The Source.
“What do they do when the weather is like this, or when it is really cold?” asked Chenault, who volunteers Friday evenings at St. Mark’s Anglican Church serving meals to the hungry. “On nights like this it breaks your heart to see them come in, along with whole families, to get out of the wet and cold.”
The Source, which was established in 1995, assists the homeless and working poor with meals, access to showers, clean clothes and toiletries, and offers them a place to pick up mail or leave as a contact phone number. Its mission has grown from initially providing meals to also helping them find resources to break the cycle of poverty.
Robin Benjouali, executive director of The Source since August, said she has always had a heart for helping others become successful. After sitting down with clients, she was surprised to discover that the reason behind their current circumstances was different from what she expected.
“Many people believe people are homeless because they are alcoholics, drug addicts or have mental problems but that is not always true,” said Benjouali. “So many of these people became homeless or were unable to pay bills after some kind of medical issue. An illness by them or a family member can ruin someone financially.”
Those who are unable to return to work frequently have no choice but to accept Medicaid and government assistance, and often spiral down into homelessness or poverty.
Several programs at The Source help clients learn new job skills and earn job references and recommendations. The Source rents land from Florida Veggies and More to teach hydroponic farming, has a computer lab, runs a thrift store and offers a Serve Safe Kitchen program.
“Working on the Barrier Island we see people who are so blessed, but you don’t always see the people who have nothing. I have been really impressed with The Source and think Robin is really on the right track,” said Chenault.
The Source board president Chuck Sinclair said he feels fulfilled by helping the less fortunate, adding that the biggest misconception is that The Source only assists the homeless.
“Only 22 percent are homeless and the rest are working poor,” said Sinclair. “The economic downturn had a major change on those that need our help. We have a lot of young families now and we had to institute a food pantry so that they can come twice a month and fill a box or come to eat here as if this was their dining room.”
Sinclair and Benjouali agree that training and compassion are key, with Benjouali adding, “My motto is that your past does not dictate your future.”
