By Doris Wedge
"It just broke my heart," says Tony Gray, speaking of a trip to the river bridge south of Norman where he saw the make-shift shelters of homeless residents. He left with a nagging feeling to do something, a feeling that he couldn't ignore.
What has grown out of that feeling is a ministry to Norman's "invisible" population, the men, women and children who are homeless. "I didn't have the heart to not do anything. It touched me in a way ... I will never be the same."
With $500 in seed money, $250 from his men's prayer group at Crosspointe Church and $250 from his employer, Westpoint Homes, Gray founded Bridge Norman (www.bridgenorman.org). The word "bridge" refers both to the site and to the hope of spanning the gaps of food, shelter and jobs for the homeless.
Gray finds that most people are surprised to know that there are hundreds of homeless people in Norman.
"In a town where many people ride bicycles and wear a backpack, it is easy to not recognize the homeless," he said. "But for a homeless person that bicycle and backpack is their whole world. All of their possessions are in that backpack."
The homeless are a transient population, he said. Last December when he first became aware of the people living at the river, there were as many as 40. Today, there are eight or so people who are living at individual campsites along the river. It is likely that more will be there when the cooler weather returns.
These residents are not a "community," he said. They have individual sites and take care of their own needs.
"They are very possessive of their space," he said, and most take shelter at least 200 feet from another person. One man has lived there for three years. "I call him the Mayor of River Town," Gray said.
Bridge Norman began its work by providing the riverside residents personal supplies and hygiene items such as a toothbrush and toothpaste, washcloth, toilet paper and such, plus food for a few days for the riverside residents. Boy Scout Troop 242 helped clear out debris left by former squatters.
The organization of volunteers now provides 50 or 60 care packages each month for anyone who presents themselves as homeless. Distribution is made one Saturday a month at the Food for Friends site.
"We give them a one-month supply of personal care items, and food for a day or two," he said, pointing out there are other organizations in Norman that provide meals.
"We don't ask questions. We don't judge," Gray said. "There are Bibles there for them to take if they want one. I would hope they see Jesus in me," he said modestly. "I want them to see Jesus, rather than hear of Jesus from me."
Bridge Norman also gives out bicycles, prepaid cell phones or phone cards for those actively seeking work.
"You can't find a job without a phone or transportation," he said.
Most of those individuals are semi-skilled laborers who have lost their jobs, he said. Often the men are veterans who need help with Veterans' Administration issues.
Finding housing for these individuals is a constant need, and it can be as simple as paying an overdue utility bill or a deposit, he said, "but financial assistance is a one-time shot." Occasionally, there are homeless women for whom finding housing is critical. "Life on the streets for a woman is really rough," Gray said.
Without a roof over their head, the homeless find shelter somehow.
"If you see a grove of trees, you will find people living there," Gray said.
Bridge Norman provides a tent and sleeping bag when they know of the need.
He and his two or three dozen regular volunteers coordinate with other agencies in Norman, and particularly with Food and Shelter for Friends, the First Baptist Church Bikes and Bibles program and East Main Place.
"Compassion Trees," which Gray constructs from lumber donated by Forest Lumber, are in place in several Norman locations where people can pick up a bag to fill with personal care items as well as non-perishable food.
The re-usable bags and a list of appropriate items to fill them can be picked up at Mitchell's Jewelry, Pink Elephant Restaurant, Westpoint Homes show home in the Cascade Addition and at Crosspointe Church. They would like to have additional sites and Gray can be phoned at 476-6111. Crosspointe Church is a drop-off site for bicycles, camping gear, tents and other items.
Gray, who as a child wanted to be a social worker and who was a special education teacher for several years, estimates he gives 25 to 30 hours a week to this mission, and to a program called "A Cross The World" (www.a-cross-theworld.com). This local organization makes crosses from horseshoe nails and attaches them to a leather-like cord to be worn around the neck. Hundreds have been sent to servicemen and women in Iraq and Afghanistan and to their families.
