God's Concrete Angels
He will reply, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me." Matthew 25:45
"Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court, for the Lord will take up their case and will exact life for life."
Proverbs 22:22-23
This was found on the side of one of the bridges on February 27, 2020, near where a few of God's Concrete Angels call home. No statement was ever so true when it comes to the survival of a lot of God's Concrete Angels. We ask that you all continue to keep God's Concrete Angels in your constant hearts and Prayers and thank you from all of God's Concrete Angels.
On Thursday, March 19,2020, shortly after a rainstorm, this double rainbow appeared and was witnessed by some of God's Concrete Angels and myself. According to Eastern cultures, a double-rainbow is a symbol of transformation and a sign of good fortune. The material world is represented by the first arc, while the second arc is the spiritual realm.
Several books in the Bible touch on the meaning of rainbows. In Revelation 10:1 it is attributed to "A mighty Angel who is Jesus himself coming through the clouds." As we all know our world is going through a trying time right now, with the coronavirus, and because of this a lot of organizations that would once be out volunteering in the homeless community have stepped back until this works it's way through its process.
While this is understandable the problem in the homeless community will still exist and sadly may get even worse. As we all go through this together please continue to keep all of God's Concrete Angels in your hearts and Prayers and we will continue to do what we can on the front-lines to ensure that God's Concrete Angels continue to not only survive but also thrive through all of this, as well as everyone else. God Bless Everyone!
On Thursday, April 2, 2020 and Thursday April 9, 2020 the Parkway Hills Baptist Church provided Pizza from Little Caesars, sandwich's, homemade cookies and muffins, as well as candy, chips, and water to us for God's Concrete Angels. We went out and distributed the food and water to God's Concrete Angels and they could not have been more grateful for everything. Moving forward we will look to continue working with Parkway Hills Baptist Church in helping feed God's Concrete Angels.
As we all go through this trying time with the coronavirus many of us that work with the homeless continue to check on them and make sure they have access to food, clothing, and LOTS AND LOTS OF LOVE AND SUPPORT! A BIG THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU TO THE PARKWAY HILLS BAPTIST CHURCH FROM ALL OF GOD'S CONCRETE ANGELS!
This is just a small number of God's Concrete Angels tents, a place they call home. Some wait paitently as they hope for a more permanent home. As they try and navigate the paperwork and come to understand that being on the "housing priority list" doesn't always mean that they will be first if housing does become available. Some of God's Concrete Angels have been on the "Housing Priority List" for years. Please keep all of God's Concrete Angels in your constant Hearts and Prayers as we do what we can to navigate a better priority for them into housing and thank you from all of God's Concrete Angels.
On May 7, 2020 we came across this beautiful scene outside of a couple of God's Concrete Angels temporary home. They told us that they did not realize when they put up the board outside of their tent that it was in the shape of the Cross. God is always with his Concrete Angels in all kinds of AWESOME WAYS, in ways that we can only imagine!
The news headlines read "Homeless man shot and killed in Dallas, police say". On Tuesday, May 12, 2020 we lost one of God's Concrete Angels. He was not just another forgotten person. His name was Len Williams. He was known on the streets as "Big Will", a gentle giant. He was very protective of his friends and most of all of his beautiful wife, Angel, Miss Debra. Pictured here are two of Big Will's dearest friends, Angel Chris and Angel Lisa. Chris considered Big Will like an Uncle to him. We are all sadden by this tragedy, but we are comforted by the fact that our beautiful Angel, Big Will, is now with God and his Angels. We ask that you all please continue to keep all of God's Concrete Angels in your Hearts and Prayers as they go through this time of grief and mourning for Angel, Big Will, and thank you.
On May 21, 2020 we came across more instances of Austin Street Shelter throwing away bags and bags of some of God's Concrete Angels clothes in the trash. We continue to ask the question of why this is taking place over and over again?
This beautiful Bible Scripture was found on the outside of one of God's Concrete Angels tents. Even in the darkest of circumstances many of God's Concrete Angels still find Hope in the Lord!
On Thursday May 28, 2020 Parkway Hills Baptist Church continued to come together with God's Concrete Angels to provide pizza, snacks, individual toiletries, clothing, socks, shoes, first aid bags, water, and Most Importantly God's Word for God's Concrete Angels! Thank you Jim, Kathy, Paula, Mary, and everyone at Parkway Hills Baptist Church for your continued support for God's Concrete Angels!!
On June 4, 2020 we once again came across some of God's Concrete Angels belongings thrown in the trash by Austin Street Shelter. Why?
On Thursday June 4, 2020, as we were checking on some of God's Concrete Angels, we came across this business in downtown Dallas that had been recently vandalized, it had been boarded up and covered by a tarp. As this picture reflects, even though we as a nation, and as a world, go through these difficult circumstances, God Is Still In Control!
On June 25, 2020, with the temperature in the 90's, one of the things that Parkway Hills Baptist Church provided for God's Concrete Angels were these beautiful popsicles. Needless to say as we gave them out they were certainly appreciated by all of God's Concrete Angels on this hot summer day!
We recently came across these vehicles parked underneath this bridge. These vehicles are the homes of some of God's Concrete Angels. Most of them have jobs that they work at, but they don't make enough to afford a true home so their vehicle becomes their home.
Even though God's Concrete Angels were not able to enjoy the Fourth of July Fireworks on July 4, 2020 in person we still found a way to bring it to them by video taping it for them. HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY TO ALL OF GOD'S CONCRETE ANGELS!!
The Office of Homeless Solutions is back at it again. These notices to vacate were given out to several of God's Concrete Angels tent encampments. As seen by the notices there is no location addresses where these notices were distributed at or a date of when this "cleanup" will take place, just a date on when the notices were given out. This invariably leads to God's Concrete Angels being in constant fear that Homeless Solutions could show up at anytime and take what little possessions that God's Concrete Angels do own and then ultimately have their possessions thrown away.
At the moment, when it comes to shelter for some of God's Concrete Angels, it is largely being dictated by the CoronaVirus. So the few shelters that do exist are full and the Convention Center that has housed some of God's Concrete Angels since the start of the CoronaVirus is scheduled to close at the end of July.
So where does that leave the rest of God's Concrete Angels, whose numbers are growing by the day. Sadly it leaves them just wandering around hoping to find some safe and shaded place to lay their head for the night. THIS IS NOT A HOMELESS SOLUTION, THIS IS A HOMELESS PROBLEM, PERIOD!
On July 30, 2020, with the continued support of Parkway Hills Baptist Church, we headed out to serve God's Concrete Angels with food, water, toiletries, clothing, pillows, and most importantly lots and lots of LOVE!
This is a picture of one of God's Concrete Angels living space. They had a few more items and a tent to stay out of the elements, but sadly The City of Dallas of Homeless Solutions raided there encampment without notice and took their tent and most of their possessions. What is pictured here was all donated by beautiful people. The City of Dallas of Homeless Solutions is back at it, sometimes raiding encampments on a daily basis without notice. But one thing we are sure of is that God is constantly watching over God's Concrete Angels, as can clearly be seen by his ray of light shining through. Please keep all of God's Concrete Angels in your Prayers as we continue to do what we can with those beautiful people that are also trying to do their best for God's Concrete Angels and thank you.
On a recent Outreach with some of God's Concrete Angels we met Angel, AnnaGrace. The first thing that caught our attention about AnnaGrace was her beautiful Godly Spirit and Smile. We would soon learn her triumph from tragedy story.
In 2015 AnnaGrace had been in continued pain from a previous fall, as well as in great depression, and addiction to her pain medication. In an attempt to relieve the pain, depression, and addiction AnnaGrace jumped from a bridge, leaving her confined to a wheelchair. In what could have become an end to AnnaGrace's story, turned out to actually be a beginning when AnnaGrace recommitted her life to Christ and found new meaning in her life.
AnnaGrace now comes and volunteers at one of the local homeless organizations on a weekly basis, as well as visiting with the homeless that surround the organization. She ministers to them, telling her story of God's unfailing love, hope, and healing. God Bless You AnnaGrace!
These pictures were taken on September 10, 2020 after a torrential rainfall the day before. This is what becomes of a lot of God's Concrete Angels things when this type of weather occurs. As seen from the pictures tents were completely soaked and collapsed, as were blankets and clothing soaked as well. With the city of Dallas not allowing any of the homeless to be able to seek shelter from the bad weather underneath bridges they are then left to weather the storms without cover. And with always disastrous results for all of their belongings, and thus having to begin all over again.
On this day we, along with several other small but mighty organizations and individuals, we were able to replace a lot of God's Concrete Angels soaked and destroyed items. God Bless Everyone who came through on a much needed time for all of God's Concrete Angels!
We found this written on the sidewalk, outside of one of the local homeless shelters. This is a wonderful scripture of hope for all of God's Concrete Angels!
This is Cowboy and his best friend Taco Bino, two of God's Concrete Angels. We have come across several of God's Concrete Angels who have dogs. Sadly most shelters will not allow pets. These beautiful pets become God's Concrete Angels constant companions, protectors, and best friend, in what can become an otherwise more difficult journey in life on the streets.
When it comes to transportation for God's Concrete Angels a bicycle is considered a luxury. So many of God's Concrete Angels are on foot, so on the rare occasion they do have a bicycle they treasure it immensely.
This is the home of one of God's Concrete Angels. The young lady who calls this home is upbeat and has a positive mindset and a belief that God will come through for her. A belief we share with her as we witness the ray of light from God shining down on where she lays her head at night. She sleeps just outside the gates of one of the main Dallas Shelters, in hopes that she can eventually get in and off the streets. Please continue to keep all of God's Concrete Angels in your hearts and Prayers and thank you from all of God's Concrete Angels.
On November 18, 2020 we met 69 year old Reese and he told us how The Department of Homeless Solutions solves the Dallas homeless issue. He said they throw all the homeless belongings away. This destroys what little hope they have and makes it even harder for them to get off the streets. What kind of solution is this?
With nowhere to go and now no belongings God's Concrete Angels are forced to start all over again with no permanent solutions for them. Sadly we have heard this story on more than one occasion from several of God's Concrete Angels. We continue to do what we can to create real solutions for God's Concrete Angels and we ask that you please continue to keep all of God's Concrete Angels in your hearts and Prayers and thank you.
We met another one of God's Concrete Angels, Reverend Michael, November 26, 2020, Thanksgiving Day, and he told us about how the City of Dallas, Code Compliance, and The Office of Homeless Solutions makes things even harder for God's Concrete Angels, by constantly raiding their living areas and throwing their things away. This causes more hardship on God's Concrete Angels and forces them to start all over again. Just as in Reese's story this occurs on a regular basis to God's Concrete Angels, with no permanent solutions for them.
We just recently met this beautiful God's Concrete Angel, who goes by Mindy, camped right outside of one of the large nonprofit organizations. This is her home. Mindy is 56 years of age and became homeless after escaping an abusive relationship, Mindy is also completely deaf.
To be homeless can be hard enough on anyone, but especially a person who is not only female, but completely deaf as well. This makes them very, very, vulnerable, to say the least. There was another homeless female that was keeping watch over her when we met Mindy. We communicated with Mindy via pen and notepad to see how we could help. Mindy stated that she was dropped off at this nonprofit organization by another nonprofit organization with the understanding that this nonprofit organization would help secure a place for her, but here she is and we were told that she had been camped here for 2 weeks.
Mindy wrote that she had taken the Covid test, (this is required at the moment by all nonprofit shelters before moving forward to the next step), and she was still awaiting the results. Mindy wrote that the person with the nonprofit organization who initially dropped her off at this nonprofit organization was supposed to be coming back later in the evening to pick her back up. Our question is to the nonprofit organization, (that she has been camped out in front of for 2 weeks), why have you all not secured a place for such a vulnerable individual? It's not that you don't know she is there, she is camped right outside your organization. As we always ask please continue to keep all of God's Concrete Angels in your hearts and Prayers and thank you from all of God's Concrete Angels.
This was put up as a beautiful Memorial for one of God's Concrete Angels, Angel Rhonda, who had recently passed away. Miss Rhonda, as she was known by many who loved her and will miss her dearly, was as tough as she was caring and beautiful. This Memorial rest above one of God's Concrete Angels tent communities, as Miss Rhonda keeps watch over all her friends. Miss Rhonda is now with God and his Angels. WE LOVE YOU MISS RHONDA!!
The sign above was put up by a group of God's Concrete Angels in one of the many homeless tent communities throughout the Dallas, Texas area. We are in 100% agreement with them!
This beautiful Christmas Tree was given to one of God's Concrete Angels Tent Communities by a beautiful group of people and is centered in the middle of God's Concrete Angels surrounding tents. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF GOD'S CONCRETE ANGELS!!!
As we were out checking on some of God's Concrete Angels we came across several of them camped outside one of the larger nonprofit organizations for the homeless. We just wonder, as the homeless numbers increase, if there is not more that can be done to find more permanent solutions for God's Concrete Angels and is this organization doing enough for them? We will continue doing what we can to find more permanent solutions for God's Concrete Angels so that more are not lost to the streets. As always please keep all of God's Concrete Angels in your hearts and Prayers and thank you from all of God's Concrete Angels.
Kelsey and her Toyota Team came together again this year for a beautiful Christmas Donation for God's Concrete Angels, which included some of the most necessary items that God's Concrete Angels continuously need. Thank you Kelsey and Merry, Merry, Christmas to you and all of Toyota!
These are just some of the beautiful Christmas Donations for God's Concrete Angels that we delivered out to them on Christmas Day, December 25, 2020. We want to thank Toyota and Team Kelsey, Tracey, Craig, Dr. Rochelle Carr, Paula, Jim and Kathy, Victor, Parkway Hills Baptist Church, Tim and Jesus Freaks, Raul, and WoodCreek Church. Merry, Merry, Christmas to all of you from all of God's Concrete Angels and may God Bless You All Always !!
This beautiful God's Concrete Angel was seen by our group, (as we were out on Christmas Day delivering gifts and lots and lots of love), going through this trashcan looking for a box to carry all of her belongings. We brought her over some food, gifts, and lots of love. We ask humbly to please continue to keep all of God's Concrete Angels in your hearts and Prayers.
We came upon this beautiful God's Concrete Angel on Christmas, laying in front of the closed and locked gates of one of the bigger nonprofit organizations. He was freezing cold and shaking, even though he was covered with blankets. We provided more blankets and a sleeping bag and called 911 to have him checked out. We were told that this organization was closed all day and no one was allowed in overnight. Please keep all of God's Concrete Angels in your hearts and Prayers.
This is a picture of Downtown Dallas, Texas, taken on Christmas Day, December 25, 2020. There are sadly homeless individuals as far as the eye can see, lined up and down the sidewalks. Where are the funds going to that are suppose to help alleviate this issue? And why do so many of the bigger nonprofits, that purport to help the homeless, and are constantly asking for more monetary donations, why have they not made a real difference in the homeless issue?
These are two of God's Concrete Angels AWESOME WARRIORS, Tim and Raul, who also have their own organizations loving and caring for the homeless community. They joined us on Christmas Day, December 25, 2020 and together we gave out gifts and lots and lots of love to God's Concrete Angels. Thank you Tim and Raul for being such AWESOME WARRIORS for God's Concrete Angels, Merry, Merry, Christmas and God Bless You Both!! We were also excited to see so many people come out as well on Christmas in their own personal cars, with friends and family feeding the homeless. At one point we saw just a line of cars coming around and feeding, truly a boots on the ground type of mission, it was a Real Blessing to See!!
FROM ALL OF GOD'S CONCRETE ANGELS, THANK YOU, MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!
Because of all of the rain we received on New Years Eve alot of God's Concrete Angels were forced to abandon their things in search of places that they could get out of the rain, usually to no avail. With no room at the shelters, and constantly being driven out from under the bridges by the city of Dallas, God's Concrete Angels end up having all their things left soaking wet.
These two wonderful, but very, very, necessary items were setup recently at one of the larger tent communities for God's Concrete Angels. These two items are taken for granted by most, but for God's Concrete Angels they are a Beautiful Blessing!
On January 2, 2021 we met these beautiful ladies helping out in one of God's Concrete Angels tent communities. They were distributing out, among others things, portable showers for God's Concrete Angels. In talking with them they told us that they volunteer with the homeless community throughout. They told us they partner together with several groups that also help out in the homeless community.
Those groups are Feed the People Dallas, Street Medics Dallas, Say it With Your Chest, Dallas Stops Evictions, Dallas Liberation Movement, and Dallas Harm Reduction. They partner together and do laundry, deliver hot meals, setup port-a-potties, clothing donations, camp setup, and showers, all for God's Concrete Angels. They are literally "Boots on the Ground", going where the homeless are and doing all that they can to make a Huge Impact for God's Concrete Angels, One Angel at a Time! God Bless You All and Keep Rocking!!
On January 10, 2021, with snow and sleet coming down, and a temperature of 35 degrees, we went to check on God's Concrete Angels. We came across more than a few of God's Concrete Angels still outside with no shelter from the weather and only the concrete and a few blankets. We gave out more warm items and continued to check on others throughout the area, as did several more "Boots on the Ground" individuals and groups.
As we and other small dedicated groups and individuals continue to question why this continues to take place for God's Concrete Angels, with no real solutions but only temporary fixes, to the lack of shelter and housing, we ask that you all just keep all of God's Concrete Angels in your continued hearts and Prayers and Thank You from all of God's Concrete Angels.
On a recent cold, rainy, and windy day God's Concrete Angels did their best to keep their belongings dry, covering them with blankets and sleeping bags, even though they need these same blankets and sleeping bags to keep themselves warm. These are just some of the many sacrifices and survival tactics that God's Concrete Angels have to endure on a regular basis.
A wonderful Donor, by the name of Jamie, donated these beautiful and colorful bags full of a variety of items for God's Concrete Angels. They were filled with things such as handwarmers, water, wet wipes, toiletries, and lots and lots of love! And on Saturday, January 16, 2021, we went out and distributed them out to God's Concrete Angels. Thank you Jamie, from all of God's Concrete Angels!
Here are the complete belongings of one of God's Concrete Angels. This is true of a lot of God's Concrete Angels that live on the street, when it comes to their belongings. They do their best to always travel lite and smart, because they never know when they will be forced to move from where they are staying. Which sadly can happen at any given time.
On Thursday January 28, 2021, with the temperatures in the 30's, we came across several of God's Concrete Angels with just the ground to lay their head, some with no covers at all to keep them warm. We put a call out to one of our beautiful partners, Parkway Hills Baptist Church, and together we provided blankets, gloves, clothing, food, and water to God's Concrete Angels.
On that same night we were humbled to see how God's Concrete Angels continuously come together as a community when one of God's Concrete Angels, by the name of Kamesha, a name by the way that means "great joy", asked for some gloves so that she could help one of her fellow God's Concrete Angels get cleaned up and changed into a new pair of pants. A pair of pants that was nothing less than a miracle from God, because they appeared just when they were needed the most.
Kamesha told us that earlier, on that same day, she was mad because she had tried to get into one of the local shelters because of the cold and that she had done everything that she was supposed to do to get in and she was still turned away. She went on to tell us that she was also angry at God for this, because she knew that she had done everything she was supposed to do to get into the shelter and yet she was still turned away. Then Kamesha said "God knew what he was doing, he needed me here to help out one of my fellow God's Concrete Angel and make sure she would be okay and taken to the shelter first thing the next morning for assistance". Please, we ask humbly and graciously, keep all of God's Concrete Angels in your hearts and Prayers and thank you from all of God's Concrete Angels!
These are just a few of the many, many, tent communities throughout the Dallas area. They are continuing to grow at an alarming rate as the number of homeless individuals increase. Please, as always, keep all of God's Concrete Angels in your hearts and Prayers and thank you from all of God's Concrete Angels.
This Banner and Notice was put up outside of Camp Rhonda, a tent community where several of God's Concrete Angels live at the moment. It was put up by The Dallas Houseless Committee, to bring more awareness to the ever growing issue of homelessness and the need for more permeant solutions instead of the continued temporary solutions.
Some of these temporary solutions have involved the city forcefully moving homeless encampments out of an area they are setup at and throwing the majority of their belongings away. This only exacerbates the problem and causes the homeless to start all over again. There are a great number of homeless that work, but they don't make enough to rent an apartment. And those that do work fear that when they return from work that all of their belongings, their tent, clothing, etc. will be thrown away by the city, this has sadly happen more then once. This is what is referred to as "the sweeps" as written on the above banner, because the city comes and literally sweeps all the homeless belongings away, sometimes by bulldozers, and throws everything of the homeless away as the homeless are forced to watch and are not able to do anything for fear of arrest.
On a recent Outreach with God's Concrete Angels, where the temperature was in the 30"s, we met another wonderful organization called "Breaking Chains of Hunger". They were going around with a little Red Wagon giving out warm items for God's Concrete Angels. On this same night they encountered one of God's Concrete Angels with no type of shelter, via a tent, which alot of God's Concrete Angels depend on to keep out of the elements. They left and came back with a tent and blankets for him. I will personally say that they truly saved one of God's Concrete Angels that night. Please look them up on Facebook and Instagram under "Breaking Chains of Hunger" to see the AWESOME WORK they are doing for God's Concrete Angels. God Bless You All and we hope to work together soon.
This is just a few of the ever increasing number of God's Concrete Angels throughout the city of Dallas. We once again ask where is all the money going that is suppose to help alleviate the suffering that continues to grow with God's Concrete Angels?
On Saturday, February 13, 2021, the day before the weather changed from just extremely cold to extremely cold, snow, and ice, we loaded up the car to the top and beyond to do a final check on God's Concrete Angels and load them up with as much warm items as possible. I would like to thank Victor for putting together an AWESOME GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS who came together and donated all of these beautiful items for God's Concrete Angels! Thank you Victor, Karla, Alex, Eun-Sang, Clint, Naoko, Meghan, Michael, Scott, and Julie. GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND THANK YOU FROM ALL OF GOD'S CONCRETE ANGELS!!
On Wednesday, February 17, 2021, we went out and checked on any of God's Concrete Angels that were not able to gain any type of shelter throughout the snow and ice storm and deliver out more warm items and food for them. We came across this shelter with the gates closed and the sign that read "overnight shelter convention center." Let us hope that there was transportation for those of God's Concrete Angels that wanted and needed to get there to the convention center, safely and without any issues.
Inside this tent are two of God's Concrete Angels that we came across on our Outreach on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. We checked in on them and dropped off more warm items for them and food. Please, we ask everyone to keep all of God's Concrete Angels in your hearts and Prayers and thank you from all of God's Concrete Angels.
This is Rhett, Karla, and Wynonna. Rhett and Karla joined us on our Outreach on Wednesday, February 17, 2021 and helped deliver and provide warm items and food to God's Concrete Angels. We met Wynonna while we were out delivering these items and she was providing hot beverages for God's Concrete Angels. Thank you Karla, Rhett, and Wynonna for what you all did and continue to do for God's Concrete Angels. I would also like to thank Victor again for coordinating all the donations and food items for God's Concrete Angels, as well as a thank you for Paula, Harriet, and Joe, for your coordinated effort for donations as well, for God's Concrete Angels. Thank all of you and God Bless You All from all of God's Concrete Angels!
On Wednesday, February 24, 2021, we came across this sign posted to the closed gate of one of the larger homeless nonprofits. When we saw this sign we asked several of God's Concrete Angels if they ever get fatigued and they answered, "everyday, but we keep on going". So we ask, "why can't this organization keep on going for God's Concrete Angels"?
As we continued our Outreach on Wednesday, February 24, 2021 we found these bags and bags of clothing donations thrown in the trash by Austin Street Center. We continue to ask the question, "why does Austin Street Center continue to throw God's Concrete Angels belongings away and do the people who donate to Austin Street Center know that there donations are going in the trash"?
Once again God's Concrete Angels have been kept out. This is the former tent community of Camp Rhonda. The owner of the property that had so generously and compassionately allowed some of God's Concrete Angels to set up a tent community, has been told by the city of Dallas that he is violating city ordinances by allowing this to take place. He did his best to fight for God's Concrete Angels against the city of Dallas. But eventually with the threat of up to $2,000 dollar a day fines from the city of Dallas, for everyday he allowed God's Concrete Angels to be on his own property the owner had no choice but to tell God's Concrete Angels he was deeply sorry but he had to close the tent community down. Once again the city of Dallas has no permanent solutions for God's Concrete Angels. The city of Dallas just continues to move them from one place to another, with nothing permanent in sight for God's Concrete Angels. Please continue to keep all of God's Concrete Angels in your hearts and Prayers and thank you from all of God's Concrete Angels.
