SHELTER HELPS 84 PEOPLE, INCLUDING 17 HOMELESS

The founder of Cape Girardeau's New Life Evangelistic Center said Wednesday the homeless shelter has provided financial help to 84 people and shelter for 17 men since it was established in August.

The Rev. Larry Rice of St. Louis was at the shelter at 713 Morgan Oak Wednesday to discuss the facility's operations and launch its winter assistance program.

Rice also appealed for donations to the center, which already has spent $4,500 to assist needy residents.

"We've provided assistance to 84 people in our first 60 days for a total of $2,520, and we provided school supplies to 151 children for a total of $755," he said.

"We've also sheltered 17 men for a total of 66 bed-days, spending a total of $4,500. The total donations we've received are stacked over there," Rice said, indicating a stack of blankets piled in the corner.

The winter assistance program includes distribution of weatherization materials and money for utility bills to people who have received heat shut-off notices.

Rice said the center will give $35 to people who have received notices that their utilities will be disconnected and can match the $35 with their own money. Those who already have had their utilities disconnected are eligible for $70.

He said that although there are many churches and groups providing assistance to needy residents of the city, few offer utility assistance.

"Not that many are helping people with energy assistance," he said. "We encourage people to go to other sources, but many are being referred to us because the other people just aren't offering the assistance."

Brenda Wilburn, a mother of four children, drove to the shelter Wednesday from Fredericktown to receive the weatherization materials, blankets and money for her utility bill.

Wilburn said her gas heat has been shut off because she owes more than $700 for her utility bill. She said the Missouri Division of Family Services has provided some money for the bill, but she's been unable to pay the balance.

"I've seen on the news about Rev. Rice helping the homeless in St. Louis and a friend told me she had seen on TV that he had a ministry in Cape Girardeau, so we came down," Wilburn said.

"In Fredericktown, there's some utility assistance, and there are churches that have a food bank, but they don't usually have money for that sort of thing."

Rice said the center also will accept applications for Thanksgiving Day turkeys.

"There are churches around the area giving out boxes of food, but most of them are not giving out turkeys," he said.

Rice appealed for donations to the center, which now is funded solely with St. Louis donations. He said that without local donations, the center will be unable to continue its energy assistance program and other aid to needy residents.

"If we had not been in place the last 60 days, there would have been 17 men sleeping out in Cape Girardeau on the streets or in vacant buildings," he said. "And we wouldn't have been able to help people through our energy assistance program, which is a homeless prevention program.

"We don't think it's asking too much to expect, for every dollar we spend in the Cape Girardeau area, the people of the area to match that with another dollar."

Rice also heads homeless programs in Springfield, Columbia, Kansas City, Jefferson City and St. Louis. The Cape Girardeau shelter is open Sunday through Thursday nights.

He has said the need for homeless services in Cape Girardeau is great, claiming that in the course of a year, there are up to 2,000 homeless in the city. Local officials have disputed the claim and have said the few homeless in the city generally are transients.

"I've seen a tremendous need here," Rice said Wednesday. "I'm shocked at how many needy people there are for a community of this size.

"We're providing services nobody else is. A lot of people aren't donating and helping out because they're not really aware of the services we're providing."