You may have heard of the Giving Tree, but what about The Giving Fence? Well, it’s real. And it’s helping hundreds of people in need in Denton.
"We go by a Bible verse that says, 'That which you've done for the least of these you have done for me,'" says Paul Juarez, Executive Director of First Refuge Ministries in Denton. "That was Jesus who actually said that. So, we're going to try to help out as many people as we can."
First Refuge Ministries started up The Giving Fence last year and was astounded to see how quickly it took off. Juarez says the idea behind it is simple:
"We have a fence on the backside of our property, you can hang a whole lot of things on it. [A staff member] had the idea of hanging coats on there and putting a sign that says: 'The Giving Fence. Take what you need, leave what you can."
Last year, the fence experienced what was described as a coat boom as people flocked to the fence to leave coats for others who might need them. This year, Juarez says the fence is even more popular. He estimates that about 500 coats have been given away in the last three weeks alone.
"We've seen a tremendous turnover on a regular basis," Juarez says. He says the fence, located along Broadway Street in Denton, will continue giving out coats as long as there is a need for it. "As long as there's people out there in the cold."
When the idea was first pitched to him, not only does Juarez say he didn't believe it would make a difference, he says he was actively against it.
"I allowed it, but reluctantly," he says. "I really thought it would be empty with a sign. And that doesn't make a good statement."
He says he's been pleasantly surprised by the response, and never should have doubted the idea in the first place.
"I shouldn't have been surprised because this is Denton," Juarez says. "This is one of the most giving communities that I've ever been a part of."
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