Christmas breakfast served for Raleigh homeless
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Hundreds of men in Raleigh without a place to call home this Christmas started their day with a warm meal thanks to some Good Samaritans.
Volunteers with First Baptist Church on Salisbury Street came to the South Wilmington Street Center early Christmas morning.
A few church members strummed on the guitar and serenaded a packed room while others served a hot breakfast to the more than 200 men staying at the shelter.
Through donations from the church, the shelter was also able to pass out sweaters, sweatshirts, and coats to those who need warm clothes this winter.
Those who work at the shelter say they work year round to serve local men in need - even providing lessons on how to land a steady-paying job - but now at Christmas the extra help goes a long way.
"Particularly this time of year, a lot of them may not have family they can go to - those type of things. So we want to make sure we present a nice atmosphere for them, some place that shows that we care," explained South Wilmington Street Center Director Frank Lawrence.
The South Wilmington Street Center has 234 beds. Staff members said they're full beyond capacity most nights, but they never turn anyone away.
