Locked Out

By Curtis Robert Tyree
January 24, 2011
310

For four years now the youth of St. John's United Church of Christ in Dover have braved the January cold to be locked out of their warm church for a cause, to raise awareness about homelessness in Tuscarawas County. Each year the church's youth group holds a lock out to benefit the Friends of the Homeless shelter of New Philadelphia, collecting donations of money, clothing, food and supplies. This year the rag-tag looking group set up camp on the church's front lawn, using boxes as shelter from the wind and snow and positioning them around a fire for a little warmth since it was bitterly cold with below zero wind chills.  "Despite the cold, people turned out to give to the shelter," said Belinda Lentz Director of Christian Education for St. John's UCC. "We're glad that donations were doing strongly, people have donated just a vast array of things like canned goods, non-perishable food and some cleaning and toiletry supplies. One member of our church donated a bunch of bed linens; something that I'm sure could be used at the shelter. One of the money donations was from this little girl who brought in a bag with money from her piggy bank, and on the bag was written 'from the piggy bank of a four year old,' I left it as it was so the shelter could see it.  "This year we had eight kids, from grades six thorough eleven, take part in the lock out, it's become something that they look forward to now. Last year, the youth spent the entire night on the front lawn in our boxes; it was cold, but not like previous years. The youth are committed to this, the fourth year, and for those who have done this before, there is no question about doing it one more time."  The lock out is something that many other United Church of Christ youth groups do every year, though throughout many different times of the year. This group has chosen to hold theirs' in January so that they can experience the harsh reality of being homeless during the winter. So, bundled up with hats, scarves, gloves, earmuffs, coats, boots, snow suits and anything else they could wear to stay warm, the youth of St. John's UCC huddled around a fire pit for warmth as the bitter cold winds blew in fresh snow, waiting for cars to come by and bring donations for the homeless shelter.   "There are some youth groups who hold their lock outs in the summer or fall, but we chose January for ours, simply because the homeless don't get to chose when or where they will be without shelter, why should we make it as easy as possible for us," said Lentz.

Locked Out

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