A GivStory by Ryan Lampa | Nashville Tennessee

Ron used to come to my house almost every other day. We’d talk about everyting from old war stories to Nashville’s weather. Ron was homeless and has been for 20 some years. Ron had a son and wife years back that were taken in separate tragic car accidents. After losing his family, everything started gradually falling away. He started running towards alcohol. The alcoholism led to his homelessness.I would get Ron extra food around the house, and sometimes would give him a few dollars here and there. Day, night, drunk or sober, Ron broke my heart. He was struggling to just find his next distraction from his current state of depression and homelessness.

I offered him a program that as long as he would bring a receipt back showing he purchased food, I would give him $5 every time he returned. He instantly and harshly declined. He did not want to change from his alcoholism. He trusted nothing else. The streets and the bottle were his constants. I found that I was being generous with out having a purpose. What was I really trying to do? Was I trying to heal him from a 20 year alcoholism and pull him from the streets by just merely keeping him accountable?

I was wanting to “make a difference” and “change a life”. But was I really on a road to doing that?

I wanted to get to know the homeless community of downtown Nashville. So I got to know them. I stopped ignoring those asking for money on the streets. I invited those that asked for a meal to sit and eat with me. I sat and listened to stories. The realization was that there are many issues that are going to take much more than just being generous. Even feeding the body can only reach so far. The question I asked myself was: “Am I doing this out of love?” Really and truly deep down, I wasn’t sure.
November of 2008, a group of friends made 6 meals to pass out in the cold of winter to Nashville’s homeless. It made a significant impact on us to see how excited people were to have a warm meal and that we really were just doing this out of love. Not to “make a difference” but to simply feed 6 people who may not have eaten that day. We didn’t want to get caught up in being a “ministry” and just came to minister. This eventually led to a clothing drive to start donating clothes. We would gather on Mondays and make a few meals, then pass them out on the streets along with a few backpacks of clothes. God went on to bless this beyond what we ever imagined.

We now have grown to feeding and clothing nearly 130-150 people every monday on the streets of downtown Nashville. We found that simply giving out of love breaks down walls. We’ve asked the homeless community what their greatest needs were. They say “we need to be noticed, acknowledged and most of all loved”. So w! e have come to do so. Whether that be a listening ear, a warm meal, a new pair of shoes or a prayer.
We are all self funded. Some people send in money if they are unable to attend, others send clothes, food and blankets. Others find out ways to get us clothes, food and blankets. God has always blessed us with resources. He has blessed us with resources through people that have answered the call of Matthew 25:31-46. We are a fun filled bunch! Young and old, employed and “not so employed”, fat, skinny, churched, un-churched, believers, strivers, weak and strong… But all powered by love and friendship. The love that only comes from Christ. Love is our first priority.  The needs of the homeless change some times, but mostly stay the same.  Ask for more info to see what the current need is. We have learned that we have had not, because we did not ask. I am now asking for assistance.

There is a great need for clothing, food and blankets for the homeless of Nashville. It will only take willing hearts to fulfill these needs.
I am always open to speak about anything and everything regarding the love we share. Let me know if you’d like to talk!

www.peoplelovingnashville.com