From Norfolk-Larry Williams picked up an empty water bottle on the steps of a church in Ghent and dropped it into one of his large garbage bags. Behind a pair of sunglasses, he pivoted toward the intersection of Stockley Gardens and Raleigh Avenue, scanning for fast-food bags, discarded clothes or other small crud.
“I wish I had a job,” said the 54-year-old Norfolk native, wearing a bright yellow vest with “Volunteer” on the back. “I don’t like asking for money.”
He didn’t have to one recent afternoon. Picking up trash would earn him $10, courtesy of a nearby church.
The program is the brainchild of Jim Bickford, a congregant at Christ & St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Ghent. He wanted to engage the people who came to the church’s weekly midday meal. Many are homeless, the working poor, or otherwise trying to ward off hunger. They could use pocket change for bus tickets, prescriptions and other necessities.
More here-
http://pilotonline.com/news/local/columnist/roger-chesley/one-church-s-low-cost-way-to-help-homeless-and/article_6aca8550-7066-5afa-8733-8a33760e02db.html
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