HOUSTON -- On a cold, gray December morning, the kindness of strangers shines brightly.
“We just periodically bring clothing donations,” said Larry Preston.
The donations are for those with no home for the holidays.
“It’s getting cold and freezing,” said Scott Arthur, spokesperson for Star of Hope. “It’s getting life-threatening and we want to be there for them.”
Issuing a cold weather alert, Star of Hope took to the streets Tuesday morning with its Love in Action van to distributes blankets, sandwiches and water to hundreds of people. In fact, the mission says Houston’s homeless population has increased by 25 percent this year alone.
“In 2011, we have seen more homeless men, women and children in our shelters than ever before,” said Arthur, “and the problem is we haven’t had the donations keep up pace with the growing need.”
He says the need for coats and cash is urgent.
To the north in Conroe, where the temperature could fall below freezing overnight, there is a sense of urgency.
“Time to get to work,” said Stephen Hall of Big Tex Tree Nurseries, “get out here and protect our stuff.”
Hall is scrambling to move the more susceptible plants into a makeshift greenhouse to protect them from a potential frost. He advises overwatering plants to insulate their roots from the cold and to cover them as well.
“If you have a thermal wrap, wrap it from the bottom to top,” he said. “If you use plastic, that’s OK, but make sure you don’t wrap it super tight.”
