Small Act Of Kindness Helps Those In Need At Salvation Amy Center Of Hope Warming Shelter

While many folks may struggle to get out of the cold, one staff member at the Center of Hope's small act of kindness helped lift their spirits. 

Elijah Edwards was hard at work checking folks in at the Salvation Army Center of Hope.

He called almost every person by name and made sure they had a place to sleep out of the dangerously cold temperatures. "It's always kind of tough on our end sometimes. just having to prepare for multiple people, like just multiple," Edwards said. 

Regardless of how many people checked in, it was important for him to learn each person's name. "We know people go through things and they need someone to lean on, and that's how I feel about it. I just want to be able to be there for most people, even if they come in here with a bad day, I'm trying to at least help them flip that," said Edwards.

Edwards has worked here for about a year and has gotten to know hundreds of people because he knows what it's like to be on the other side of the front desk. "We stayed in a homeless shelter, Tulsa County shelter," he said. 

Even while in the shelter as a child, his mother taught him how to help others in a time of need, "she always dedicated her help to the homeless. Feeding them, giving them clothes and all that. Shoot, there have been times where we were hungry, and she was making food for them sometimes," said Edwards. 

He said while work can have both its good and bad days, he's happy with what he's doing. "It's all worth it at the end of the day, being able to help out everybody and making sure people get some shelter, something to eat, clothing, and otherwise," Edwards said. 

The Salvation Army Center for Hope is open 24/7 as an emergency shelter.

It provides meals, beds, and a warm place to stay for anyone who needs to get out of the elements.