Clinton Township — Living on the streets creates a sense of vulnerability that wears down a person’s soul and make them feel abandoned.

Questions many take for granted, such as where to eat, where to sleep and where does one belong become hard to answer, as people with unstable living situations try to find a friendly face.

The Macomb County Rotating Emergency Shelter Team (MCREST) tries to be that friendly face, providing shelter, food, clothing and a smile. MCREST is a coalition of 80 churches throughout Macomb County that house either 30 men or 30 women for a week, providing meals, clothes, bus passes and evening entertainment.

“MCREST is not just a temporary shelter, it’s for people in a transitional phase,” said Ken Lampar, the nonprofit’s development director. “We have case workers assigned to all 60 people staying that week, identifying the obstacles they are facing when it comes to getting housing.”

MCREST works with the Michigan Department of Community Mental Health and McLaren and Macomb hospitals to help homeless people receive job skills training, career counseling and clothing for interviews as well as support groups for those facing addiction or mental illness.

From Aug. 2-9, St. Thecla Parish in Clinton Township hosted 30 men, providing them shelter and food as part of the MCREST program.

“We are providing two-way bus tickets, breakfast, sack lunches and dinners for an average of 30 people a day,” said Cheryl Cannon, co-chair of St. Thecla’s MCREST committee. “We’ve been doing this for many years. Volunteers donate cash for bus tickets and we do laundry for our guests.”

Cannon said it was only a few weeks ago the committee announced to the congregation that St. Thecla was hosting MCREST, and Cannon said the parish community responded with donations.



“We have 150 volunteers who are contributing time throughout the week, and we had such an outpouring of support in terms of supplies,” Cannon said. “It’s a point of pride for our parish, but it’s also part of being Christian.”

Guests had the chance to eat cooked meals for the week, with dinners grilled by members of the St. Thecla Knights of Columbus council.

Newly appointed associate pastor Fr. Radoslaw Zablocki was excited when he heard St. Thecla would host MCREST, giving him a chance to see his congregation in action.

“I encouraged participation and for people to be involved, and so many decided to volunteer,” Fr. Zablocki said. “Loving others is a way of loving God, and events like these demonstrate our love we have for one another.”

Fr. Zablocki was most impressed with the number of volunteers who contributed their time and treasure to host MCREST.

“Some of the people who volunteer are leaders in the parish, but so many more are just regular parishioners,” Fr. Zablocki said. “It shows we are a parish in solidarity with one another and we want make a difference.”

MCREST, which started 27 years ago when Macomb County residents came together to do something about homelessness in the area, recently built a facility in Mt. Clemens that can host 30 women and children for 90 days at a time.

“This is a really big change for MCREST — having a facility,” Lampar said. “This will give our guests a greater chance at stability and they’ll feel more comfortable.”

In addition to helping the homeless find a place to stay for the week and a meal, Lampar said MCREST’s goal is to instill a sense of dignity among the homeless, which builds confidence and sets people up for success.

“We’re all about helping people transition back into the community,” Lampar said. “We identify what they need, and we work with our partners in the community to provide for them.”

For Cannon and the parishioners at St. Thecla, MCREST is an opportunity to reach out to the community and help those in need while fulfilling the parish’s mission.

“We weren’t surprised with the turnout we got when we asked for help,” Cannon said. “This is part of who we are, and people are more than enthusiastic to help out.”