Backyard Midland has confirmed plans to feed the homeless outside on the weekends, NewsWest 9 reported.
“Not every organization in Midland is able to feed the homeless outside on the weekend, so awhile back Backyard Midland decided they wanted to help fill in that gap,” the report stated.
The organization mirrors missions made by other initiatives, such as the efforts made by the Salvation Army, which recently announced that Midland homeless residents could find residence with them.
"We have multiple different programs with our shelter. Our shelter for instance, the emergency shelter, you just show up at five and get a bed or cot, and now you got 60 days emergency shelter," said Capt. Robert Coriston, the corps officer for the Midland Salvation Army.
“My understanding is that there are other ministries and services that feed homeless people during the week, Monday through Friday, but nobody was feeding them on the weekends,” Perry McDuffey, volunteer with Backyard Midland, said. “So that’s how they got started going out.”
McDuffey highlighted the potential hardships homeless individuals often face and the fact that most aren’t in that circumstance by choice.
“A lot of these people are...some of them are there by choice, some of them are not. They want to get out of that situation,” McDuffey said.
The organization aims to help all Midland residents feel included in the community. The meals won’t stop trolling around on the weekend anytime soon, according to McGuffey.
“Just letting them know that there’s someone that cares about them,” McDuffey said.