Mineral Wells Area News

By Lori Lynch & Amy Bearden

Special to Mineral Wells Area News

As weather forecasters began talking about an Arctic blast that would cause temperatures to drop into single digits, the Mineral Wells Center of Life jumped into action and began finding a solution to help the community’s most vulnerable residents stay safe from the dangerous temperatures.

Every week, the MWCOL partners with local churches and community members who volunteer Monday thru Thursday to feed 25 to 30 homeless clients (also known as unhoused) in the center’s kitchen. They also provide meals to feed clients through the weekend when their doors are closed.

Winter Storm Warnings

While feeding people is on their daily to do list, an ominous weather forecast for the second week of January turned the Center’s concern from food to shelter.

As inclement, frigid weather loomed, MWCOL employees and volunteers faced an immediate task of providing their clients with safety and warmth in a very short amount of time.

The center reports about fifty unhoused clients registered through their programs and defines unhoused as anyone without a permanent living arrangement.

MWCOL’s staff prefer using the term unhoused to describe what typically is referred to as homeless. The term applies to anyone living on the streets, or in a car, or anyone who resides in a structure without water and/or electricity.

What is MWCOL?

Mineral Wells Center of Life is a nonprofit organization that operates from the help of local churches and community support to assist those in our community who need a helping hand, whether it be for food, housing or bill paying assistance.

As the forecast lingered, MWCOL began an emergency mission to provide warmth and safety for their vulnerable clients.

With limited funding available, less than sufficient man-power to staff warming stations, as well as an insurance policy that restricts clients from overnight stays at the center, Director Amber Brooks knew the forecasted storm was going to require more efforts than she and her team could provide and decided to take their needs to social media in a live discussion with Mineral Wells Area News to ask the community for help.

They asked for specific supplies and the community responded immensely, dropping off tents, blankets, thermals, various supplies and canned goods.

Unsure if warming stations would be open during the Winter storm, MWCOL also asked for cash donations to possibly help place the unhoused in local hotels, citing a $300 donation could get someone a warm room for the week while dangerous temperatures invaded the area.

Again the community responded to the call for help, raising thousands of dollars in a few days to provide the unhoused a warm shelter for the week in local hotels.

After raising the funds necessary, only half the battle was done. Brooks and her staff began the daunting task of rounding clients up and getting them into rooms ahead of the frigid temperatures.

“It’s been a very overwhelming and incredible response to our situation,” said Brooks. “So far, we located and temporarily housed 40 of our clients for the emergency weather. We provided non-perishable food items for the week, clean clothes and toiletries.”

Brooks, who has served as the MWCOL Director for just one year now, also knows the needs of their clients don’t end when the Winter storm passes.

“We prepared bags containing thermals, socks, underwear, hand/feet warmers, Mylar blankets, beanies, gloves, and blankets for their use in the milder cold weather,” said Brooks.

While Brooks appreciates the accolades for her and her staff, she says there is so much more work to do after the storm.

She has organized a new team of compassionate energetic, empathetic souls who are looking to deepen the partnership between the community and her organization.

Taking lessons and wisdom from ways of the past, Brooks’ new team at MWCOL desires to move forward with fresh ways of solving old problems.

One of the center’s newer goals as a team was to be more intentional about facilitating a deeper sense of community and hoped to be more vocal and transparent about the center’s need for increased resources and man-power. They wanted to invite local residents to partner with them to care for their neighbors who are in need.

More Than A Soup Kitchen

While caring for the unhoused is a passion the MWCOL, it is only a portion of what they do.

Just in the last quarter of 2023, MWCOL saw more than 300 clients and provided over 1,200 services to them, including feeding daily meals, assisting with housing needs, as well as helping them to manage basic imperative life skills, such as obtaining a social security card.

Brooks’ team encounters several new clients each week who have no idea of the services they provide, revealing that there is still a substantial number of people who are unaware of the depth of their offerings at MWCOL. They decided there was no time like the present and knew they needed a quick plan to educate the community of their needs.

Cue Social Media.

The response was overwhelming, said MWCOL. Funds began pouring in within minutes after sharing QR codes to receive donations.

Coats, blankets, warm clothing, and other items listed as their greatest needs for the Winter storm were provided in abundance.

So was the cash.

Before the cold weather arrived, MWCOL provided temporary shelter or supplies for more than 40 unhouused persons in the area and discovered a need for countless others in the community.

Due to the amazing support of our generous community, the center was able to provide temporary housing, clean clothing, toiletries, and food to sustain the more than 42 unhoused people for the week of the predicted inclement weather.

Mineral Wells Center of Life

Mineral Wells Center of Life is humbled with gratitude for each person who gave their support to their mission of protecting the vulnerable as a Winter storm threatened our unhoused community.

Director Brooks stated the community was full of “rockstars” that really came through.

“We are so pleased with how productive we were able to be. Because of everyone’s support, this process was much easier than anticipated. God truly blessed us through the community’s partnership. We are just overwhelmed with appreciation,” exclaimed Brooks.

The center says they are looking forward to future work with the public and all that can be accomplished together.

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