CREW 29 Volunteers Always Ready for Homeless Outreach
The name CREW 29 aptly describes the group of 75 volunteers from various churches and the community who serve as the backbone of Lifepointe Ministries’ outreach for the unsheltered in North Brevard.
CREW stands for Community, Ready, Engaged, and Willing.
There are 28 chapters of the Acts of the Apostles in the Bible “where Jesus is telling us to go and do and be the hands and feet,” said Lifepointe Ministries’ Director of Outreach, Mary Dowty of Cocoa. “We are living out the 29th chapter.”
Dowty, who teaches sixth and eighth grades at Space Coast Christian Academy in Cocoa, oversees volunteers at Thursday night’s Common Table meal at the Titusville Civic Center and also the inclement weather shelters.
“I stay aware of the overall needs of the mission, the team, the building, our unsheltered friends, and the community,” she said.
Richard Evans joined CREW 29 when he found Lifepointe Ministries. He had been looking for a church after his younger brother passed away from cancer.
Evans, who works full-time at ABC Fine Wine and Spirits, fills in for Pastor Royce “Scooter” Morrison when he can’t be there.
“I help set up on Thursdays,” Evans said of the Common Table meal. “Sometimes I’ll do check-ins when we open the doors or check with the kitchen. Sometimes I help people who need clothing from the warehouse. I have fellowship with our guests and mediate any problems that arise. I will either pop in or stay overnight at the cold weather shelters.”
Evans has no formal background in social services.
“I’m led by God. He tells me what to say and do. All I gotta do is listen,” he said. “I’m just a small part of an amazing team. There are people on this team that exceed whatever I can contribute with their generosity of time.”
Ashley Plummer teaches secondary science for sixth to 10th grades at Space Coast Christian Academy in Cocoa. She has been a CREW 29 volunteer for the past two years.
“When our guests come in, I’m the first face they see. I like to greet them with a big smile. No one knows their battles unless they are in their shoes,” she said. “They just need to know that they are important. They need those human dignities that we all enjoy.”
Retiree Donna Lessard of Port St. John works in the kitchen and helps prepare and serve food on Thursday nights. She also stores food donations from various charities and organizations, such as Kelsey’s Pizza, KFC, and Wawa.
“There are so many people out there that need a smile to turn their day around,” Lessard said.
“We’ve got people who have extreme health issues and are homeless and can’t afford their medical bills,” Plummer said. “I can’t believe how easy it is for someone to become homeless. There are so many who aren’t addicted to drugs or alcohol. They are normal people who fell on hard times.”
Regardless of how much love, time, and effort they put into their work as volunteers, each member of CREW 29 seeks no glory. They all see the strength in numbers, and together this amazing team produces the ultimate impact on the community.
From the Archive
Feb. 1, 2024: LifePointe Ministries Opens Doors to Homeless in North Brevard
Aug. 18, 2020: The Right to Shower
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