Local nonprofit encourages community to help homeless

PawPaw's Homeless Ministry continues providing clothing, food for those in need

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — While many Chattanoogans may have fall on their minds, one nonprofit is already thinking about winter.

Its founder says he truly loves the city’s homeless population and encourages others to love them, as well.

The volunteers behind PawPaw’s Homeless Ministry have been working to “bring hope” to the city’s homeless population since 2019.

When someone asked Founder Mike Rice what they should call him, his granddaughter simply answered “PawPaw.”

That name has stuck ever since.

Ministry volunteers gathered Tuesday afternoon to separate and box winter clothes for Chattanooga’s growing homeless population.

Rice says this drive happens about twice every year.

“We have to accumulate all the clothes from people that donated and keep it up to date,” Rice said. “We’re getting ready already for Thanksgiving — that is to distribute all the clothes to the homeless on Eleventh Street, box it up. Usually, we end up with about 200 boxes by the time we leave.”

Since the ministry began, Rice and his team have prepared more than 34,000 meals for homeless Chattanoogans, as well as provided blankets, tents, clothing and more.

Rice says this work, which may take up to 60 hours of his week, is something done with spirit.

He and his assistant, Donna Adkins, believe this is God’s mission for them.

“You just go with your heart and your soul,” Adkins said. “These people have become our family. These people have become our friends. We begin to worry if we don’t see them. It is a true calling.”

Rice says the homeless community on 11th Street has grown 154% since last year and encourages residents to look on them with kindness.

The man they call “PawPaw” says Chattanooga’s homeless just need to be loved.

Volunteering just once, he says, blesses your heart.

“They’re just bad on their luck, down on their luck,” Rice said. “People have no clue what percentage of the homeless people actually have jobs, but there’s no affordable living for them. That’s what God says to do — take care of one another, feed the hungry, feed the ones that need help. And that’s what we do.”

“PawPaw” has more than 14 fridges and freezers packed with donated food to feed those in need — local Chick-fil-A’s in particular have donated plenty of chicken and biscuits.

If you want to donate funds, food or goods to the nonprofit, as well, more information can be found on PawPaw’s Homeless Ministry’s Facebook page.