Please, I’m So Cold!

You’re probably not surprised the temperature here in Iowa can plunge dangerously low! In Des Moines, our average high for the winter months rarely reaches above freezing. For the homeless who are exposed to these extremes without the right kinds of clothing, winter isn’t simply uncomfortable; it can be brutal and even deadly.

Deborah was raised by alcoholic parents in an abusive family, and she looked in all the wrong places for the love and acceptance she craved. “I got wrapped up with the wrong people,” she says. “I acquired a taste for alcohol—and used drugs on and off since high school—and it’s gotten me in nothing but trouble ever since.” Deborah lost her job, her home and her family, and was in and out of prison for driving under the influence. She tried different kinds of treatment programs, but nothing worked.

Finally, at nearly 50 years old, Deborah decided to come in from the cold, both spiritually and physically . . . and she turned Hope Ministries. “Here, I’ve found what I’ve been missing: a relationship with God. He’s been on the back shelf way too long.”

Through our H.E.A.R.T recovery program for women at Hope Family Center, Deborah is overcoming her addiction, learning life skills that lead to independent living and focusing on relationships—most important of all, with Jesus Christ.

If she hadn’t found God at Hope Ministries, Deborah believes she’d either be back in prison, or fighting to survive the elements.

You see, the homeless are especially susceptible to cold-weather conditions like frostbite and hypothermia because their clothes may be wet or they may be exposed to the wind, both of which cause the body to lose heat very quickly. And alcohol consumption—because it feels like it’s warming the body—can have even more tragic consequences in frigid temperatures. That’s why we typically see a rise in the number of men, women and children seeking shelter this time of year.

As we head into the most dangerous season for homeless neighbors like Deborah, Hope Ministries is grateful for your generous support, which enables us to provide life-saving shelter from the elements . . . and to warm cold hearts with Christ’s love. God bless you for your gift, today.