Donuts, Hats, and Friends by Meredith Peters

This was one of our homeless friends with his new hat.

On November 4th Dad and I went to Fort Collins to do Donuts with Friends. We were mailed two big boxes of nice winter hats from a friend on Cape Cod. We were also given warm winter gloves and gently used snow jackets and long johns from people here in Colorado, so we packed up these items and headed off to Fort Collins to serve the homeless.  

We got to Fort Collins with hot Panera Coffee, donuts, granola bars, and all the winter gear and went to Jefferson Park, our usual spot, but no one was there. That happens from time to time so Dad and I decided to drive around and see if we could find some homeless people. We didn't have to drive far to find where homeless people were sleeping.  They were in the old trucks and run down campers parked on a side street in downtown Fort Collins.  

We started with unloading the table and gear and before long people started coming out of their vehicles and we were able to offer them all the winter gear we had.  They were so excited! They loved being able to pick out their colors and styles of hats and other winter gear. 

They enjoyed talking with us over coffee and waking up to fresh donuts. It was a great experience to share with them over a cup of coffee. We got to talk to them about the cold nights, their families, and other life situations. It was truly sharing Donuts with Friends!

One man was so thankful for the long johns and hats and we told him that items were all donated from friends in Fort Collins and Massachusetts and he shared that he was from Connecticut. I told him that I was born there and that we had fond memories of New England. It is a small world. 

One man shared about how his wife was going to be sad she missed meeting us. He asked if he could have a hat for her since she was working. We of course gave him an extra hat and he kept saying thank you but that she would have loved to meet us, to share Donuts with Friends. 
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It is not the big things that God calls us to do for people. He calls us to do the little things, to share what we have, to go to the poor, to share His love and hope with those in need. We are blessed to continue to reach out to the homeless as we try to patiently wait on God's timing on the building addition at the Ranch. We feel blessed by everyone who gives to our outreach and building funds, we feel blessed to be the ones God has called to share with the homeless, we feel blessed to serve a God who loves!

"Give generously to the poor and do so without a grudging heart, then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land."  Deuteronomy 15:10-11

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