White Flag Ministry needs financial help

January’s winter weather has First Baptist Church of Corbin’s White Flag Ministry in need of monetary help to be able to provide hotel rooms to those in need.

“We are seeing between 100 and 120 people each night,” said Pastor Alex Lockridge noting that the ministry is spending approximately $3,000 per night.

Lockridge said the ministry, now in its fifth year, has been fortunate in that the owner of the Knights Inn off of Exit 29 has been willing to work with them, providing a discount on the room rate.

In addition, members of the community have been generous in supporting the ministry.

Donations to the ministry are tax-deductible and may be made online by going to www.corbinfbc.org/whiteflag and clicking on the give now banner.

“No donation is too small,” Lockridge said.

In addition to providing a room, Lockridge said the ministry serves free meals at the ministry building on Roy Kidd Ave. near the church.

Area groups and organizations take turns volunteering to provide the meal for the day through the week.

“We give the individuals a food bag when they check in Friday night to help get them through the weekend,” Lockridge noted.

Lockridge said groups and organizations that would like to participate in serving meals are welcome and encouraged to do so.

More information about volunteering to prepare meals is available by contacting the church office at 528-4738.

The White Flag Ministry takes its name for the flag that is flown outside the building when the rooms will be made available.

The ministry goes into action on nights when the temperature is forecast to fall to 29 degrees or below.

“We had a couple of cold nights in November but it was warm throughout December,” Lockridge said noting that the White Flag has been flying almost every night this month.

A woman from Manchester was among those in lined for a room outside the Knights Inn Tuesday night as the temperature was forecast to reach 22 degrees.

She said this was the second time that she had used the ministry.

“Last night I stayed at a friend’s house,” she explained noting that she doesn’t want to take advantage of her friend’s generosity.

“I want to get a place of my own, but it is tough to get a job and get on your feet when you don’t have a place to live,” she said.

Lockridge said the ministry does not limit the number of times an individual may come for a room, but if an individual causes problems through damage to the room, drug use while at the hotel or such things the owner can and have banned individuals.

“We have a good relationship with the hotel owner and he lets us know if someone is causing a problem,” Lockridge said.