Southport Presbyterian Church

SOUTHPORT, NC, July 26, 2024 –  At its first new mission outreach initiative, “The Church Has Left the Building,” SPC held a “Songs on the Lawn” outdoor concert last week, raising more than $1,100 toward the purchase of mobile showers for the homeless.

According to Linda Becken, SPC Mission Committee member and event organizer, inviting Southport’s neighborhoods to the concert was a great way to kick off SPC’s “The church has left the building” mission outreach efforts.  She said donations received at the concert benefited the efforts to purchase mobile showers by Streetreach, a Brunswick County coalition that provides temporary shelter, meals and linkage to resources for the unsheltered.

The lineup of performers included The Coastal Harmonizers from Shallotte;  The Cape Fear Chordsmen, Wilmington; Traveling Serendipity Group, Brunswick County;  Songs by Helen Raytek & Jacque Sassar on guitar & banjo, St. James;  Singer, song writer Doug Becken, Oak Island; and  SPC sing-along guitarist, Bob Prunty, Southport.

During intermission Donna Phelps, director of Streetreach, talked about the urgent need of resources for the Brunswick County homeless population.  She said there are currently 300-400 homeless in Brunswick County, but unfortunately the county has no long-term shelters.  Shelter volunteers say homelessness in Brunswick County is less visible than in more urban communities because of the many wooded places where the homeless have set up camp.  According to Phelps, due to a recent federal Supreme Court ruling,  the outdoor homeless encampments in the county have been disbanded by law enforcement, and the area homeless are living

“ Some of these people have  employment but cannot make enough to get housing, considering they need to come up with a first and last month’s rent as well as a security deposit,”  she said. “ Some are looking for jobs, and it’s hot, they’re  sweaty and they have to go to work.  Or they may have an opportunity for an interview and must make a good impression.  A simple shower can help refresh, restore dignity and

inspire hope in those who have lost everything.”  She said Streetreach is hoping to raise enough funds to purchase a mobile shower, which can be moved to different homeless encampments within Brunswick  County. The minimum cost is around $40,000.”

According to Phelps, Streetreach has no paid staff, and its mission is “To unite the community of Inter Faith churches, non-profits, social services, law enforcement, civic groups and the community to improve the lives of the hungry and the homeless in our county.”   Their reach includes the disabled, veterans, and those with mental illness. Almost half of their clients are female.