Community Champion: Miles Roberts
It’s time to recognize a Community Champion, an honor given to people making a positive impact in the community. It’s in partnership with Leaders Credit Union.
Miles Roberts is the pastor of The Shepherd’s House in Lexington.
When he’s not delivering a sermon during service, he’s being of service to those who need it most.
He says it started after coming across a homeless man walking in 20 degree weather with nowhere to go.
“I went home that night and I told my wife, that’s just not right someone sleeping under a bridge. And I prayed about it and the Lord spoke to me to have a public meeting that following Tuesday night. So we did, and 38 people showed up like-minded… said we’ve been trying to do this for years,” Roberts explained.
That was the beginning of the Henderson County Homeless Coalition.
The coalition is 100% volunteer run and works to get the unhoused community off the streets in Henderson county.
While the coalition is working on getting transitional housing in the future, for now they are helping how they can. They are doing that by providing men and women with the necessary supplies and they need to survive through resources like their hygiene station.
“The homeless or the needy. They come in they get something to eat. Take a shower wash their clothes. But they cant stay here. They can’t spend the night here,” Roberts clarified.
Most items in the hygiene station were donated from the community and local churches. That includes items like cabinets, toilets, washers and dryers.
“I think we are blessed to live in Lexington, in Henderson county, because people come together when there’s a need,” Roberts said. “They just pitch in and they just help each other. We help each other.”
He says they are always looking for volunteers.
“Whenever our hygiene station here is open, we have monitors here to just sit with them sort of show them what to do. Help them get food. Help them get their clothes figured out,” Roberts explained.
While items like tents and sleeping bags are available, the end goal is to help people get back on their feet.
“Biggest thing we do is help them with what they need to get a job. And then when they get a job they save up enough money for the first month’s rent. Then we’ll come in and we’ll either pay their first month’s rent, or their deposit, or get their utilities cut on. We just don’t do all three,” Roberts said.
Roberts says giving back is a calling from God.
“The Bible talks about the Holy Spirit gives us gifts and one of them it says the gift of helps. I think our team has the gift of helps,” Roberts said.
If you’re in need of assistance or want to volunteer at the hygiene station, you can call their hotline at 731-307-7593.
You can also call the hotline if you want to donate supplies.
To send in monetary donations, Roberts says to make it out to HCHC. If you’re mailing in a donation it can be sent to PO Box 723, Lexington, TN, 38351.
