Macon Magazine

her long list of active volunteers has been limited with work being done by only a few volunteers and a small, part-time staff. It's the same with most groups. "We miss our volunteers and those we serve miss them, too," Frischkorn said. "We give more than food here – we give smiles and hugs and to many who come, that's just as important. One volunteer is known as the 'hug lady' but of course with COVID-19 hugs are a no-no and it's impossible to see smiles through masks unless you really let them shine through your eyes. We try to do that." Macon Outreach is a good place to note cooperation among organizations as one steps in to help when another must shift and adjust during virus-impacted times. Ferro of Loaves & Fishes said they've turned the bulk of their clothes distribution over to Macon Outreach. Loaves & Fishes, on the other hand, has stepped in to serve late-afternoon meals formerly offered by the Rescue Mission before their move. Still, the Rescue Mission generally provides the basic meal with Loaves & Fishes serving and providing supplemental items. As a sampling of previous numbers of meals served by Loaves & Fishes, Ferro said in 2019 and until COVID-19, Loaves & Fishes served 75 to 100 lunches on Tuesdays. After the pandemic, he said it's easily 500-600 meals per week. During the pandemic, the Rescue Mission served as distributors for an eight- week COVID-19 food relief program that Chastain said gave more than a million pounds of food to nonprofit food pantries and ministries, a service they hope to repeat. In the early 1990s, and continuing through the pandemic, Frischkorn said the congregation at Christ Church, a downtown Episcopal congregation on Walnut Street, started Weekend Lunch to offer meals beyond what Macon Outreach was doing on weekdays. It's headed by Hal Brickle, who said lunches once served within Christ Church are now bagged and served outside by church teams and other volunteers. Prior to the coronavirus, 300-plus meals were given each weekend; the average now is nearer 200. "Sack lunches aren't as personal, but it's still about people and about relationships, even if it's saying, 'How are you?' or 'Good to see you,' instead of getting to shake hands," said Brickle. "ough we have rotating teams, you build a rapport and see real people, not just someone hungry in a line. People come knowing they're respected and not looked down upon. I love it." Christ Church's rector, the Rev. Cynthia Knapp, said it's important the church is involved, cooperative and supportive of other organizations, but that it's also crucial that they themselves respond in a useful way to the need "right at our front door." "It's biblical hospitality," she said. "People walk past us all the time who are hungry, homeless and it's important we have a hand in caring for them. Plus, there is immeasurable good it does our own hearts." Amidst change and struggle, work goes on. THE SALVATION ARMY OF GREATER MACON Majors Johnny and Rebekah Poole are retired Salvation Army officers called back into service a little over a year ago to lead in Macon-Bibb County. Johnny Poole is a Macon native and the two served here for six years in the early- 2000s. According to records, the Salvation Army has been at work in Macon since 1900. Among the Salvation Army's huge numbers of programs and services to families and individuals, Poole said the organization has operated its homeless shelter "as long as anyone can remember – often the only emergency shelter available." Programs have developed to help those homeless find sustainable and affordable housing. He said a shelter wing with programs for veterans has been added and, like the regular shelter, has continued operating through the pandemic under new policies. As part of its work in Warner Robins, the Salvation Army offers domestic violence support and a safe house. "COVID has really put a big thing on everyone," Poole said. "But we haven't closed or missed one day out of seven-a-week at the shelter." CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: DAYBREAK, MACON OUTREACH AND DAYBREAK. 70 maconmagazine.com | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

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