On the Edge – Day Two

By Fr. Mike Bertram, OFM Cap., Capuchin Community Services Ministry Director

Many businesses and residents have avoided the city for this week, given that some 50,000 people are here for the Republican National Convention. People have talked about working from home or taking vacation and going “up north” for the week. But the sponsor groups who provide food for the evening meal at St. Ben’s are terrific! Last night’s group from St. Monica Parish in Whitefish Bay turned out in great numbers to make sure that our guests got a great meal once again.

After one full day of the Convention, life goes surprisingly smooth at St. Ben’s. Staff, employees and volunteers have reported no problem getting to 9th and State, despite the presence of the security border at 9th Street. Services have continued without interruption, and the numbers of guests coming to St. Ben’s has increased. The number of men especially who turned out for the evening shelter program rose last night over Sunday night, bringing the room to near-capacity. Again, the guests are very grateful for this service.

Security is in evidence not only around St. Ben’s, but all around the city. Police officers on bicycles can be seen in neighborhoods remote to the Convention site, as was noted in the neighborhood of the House of Peace (17th and Walnut). Though not close to the Convention site, surrounding areas are being patrolled for general safety. It has left many city streets nearly deserted as traffic routes have disrupted normal patterns of traffic.

In addition to our sponsor groups that have kept the evening Meal going at St. Ben’s, kudos go out to the great family of donors and benefactors throughout metro Milwaukee who have expressed great gratitude and pride that Capuchin Community Services has gone out of its way to serve the homeless and poor during the Convention. Food and drink and monetary donations have come in to help with the extra expenses incurred by the expansion of services at St. Ben’s. Volunteers who helped with the winter shelter program jumped at the chance to come back to St. Ben’s for this week of sheltering the poor and homeless. Thanks and blessings to all who have joined CCS in its efforts to respond to the needs of the poor at this time.