32° and Cloudy
Image
On Jan. 14th, John Cooper, Executive Director at NGM (Niagara Gospel Mission) rucked 34 miles seeking to raise awareness for homelessness in Niagara County
“Our Code Blue van goes out on this 34-mile route each evening to catch people who are walking around in the snow and may freeze on their way to seek shelter. Niagara Gospel Mission drives this route every day it is below 32°F and we want to be known as the mission that can provide hope and aid in dire times. I am walking this route to raise awareness and funds for those individuals who have nowhere to go. Niagara Falls starts to come back when we care for our own” Cooper said.
Code Blue is a New York State program that comes into effect whenever the temperatures drop below 32°F. This provides the opportunity for shelters to house as many individuals as possible.
Each Code Blue night the mission sends out its van to look for anyone who is trying to find a warm place to sleep. Cooper’s ruck started at his house in Niagara Falls. He then proceeded to ruck to every location where NGM does regular pickups. This included stops at DeVeaux Woods State Park, Whirlpool State Park, Niagara Gospel Mission, Community Missions of Niagara Frontier Inc., Raymond Klimek Veterans Park, 7-eleven (North Tonawanda), Walmart (North Tonawanda), and Hyde Park. Cooper completed this entire ruck in 14 hours.
Homelessness continues to be something that has affected many lives in the Niagara County area. NGM has been near capacity recently with people seeking shelter and aid through their recovery services.
“As we continue to see an ongoing need for homeless services in our area, I wanted to do something that would put me in the same shoes as many of the people that come through our doors” Cooper said. “By spending an entire day outside in below freezing weather and walking with only a backpack full of supplies I was able to better understand what someone who comes into our mission on a Code Blue night is experiencing. Many people walk miles a day just to find a warm place to stay.”
Niagara Gospel Mission is sponsoring a fundraiser for John’s 34-mile ruck in the hopes to raise over $5,000 to continue in its Code Blue effort and homeless work. A link to this fundraiser can be found on niagaragospelmission.com. You can also track John’s travels from his ruck in more detail on Niagara Gospel Mission’s Facebook page.
If you are in the city of Niagara Falls and would like to donate or know more about the Niagara Gospel Mission, please call (716) 205-8805 ext. 105. The Niagara Gospel Mission exists to rebuild the city of Niagara Falls through the rebuilding of lives and the reviving of hearts to everyone they meet in the community.
