Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - 26 years ago, Pastor Eric Johns from the Buffalo Dream Center began the annual tradition of taking to the streets of Buffalo and living amongst the homeless of the community. He did this as part of a mission to help raise awareness and assist the city's homeless population.
After taking part in his final "homeless week" initiative last year, Johns' two sons, Alex and Nate, are carrying the torch moving forward, continuing their father's work and helping those less fortunate in the City of Buffalo.
"It doesn't feel like Year 1, as what I've been kind of telling people, because we've been doing it so long with our dad. It's kind of normal, so as we keep doing it, we get more used to it. But it's Year 1 without dad, so that's going to be a different experience, but I'm excited," said Alex Johns in an interview with WBEN.
"It will be a little different, but we have done it for a few years now all together. And we're hoping to make some new traditions, try out some different things, and looking forward to it. It'll be good," added Nate Johns.
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Over the course of the next several days, Alex and Nate, along with their three cousins, will be sleeping in sleeping bags on the streets, going to homeless shelters, parks, bus stations, eating in soup kitchens and interacting with other homeless individuals in the community.
"We've kind of learned over the years of helping with my dad and going out with him is that everyone just wants to tell their story," Alex said. "We really go into these soup kitchens, and our goal is to sit with someone we don't know, and learn their name, learn their story, why they're homeless. And a lot of times, guys are just appreciative of that, of [telling] their story and why. You'll hear some things, like it's not always due to addiction or something that is bad. Sometimes they're just down on their luck and they got kicked out their apartment. So then we're able to encourage them, and they're always thankful, too. And we always make sure we have things to give away, like socks and different items for them."
Alex adds about four times a week, him and his family are out in Downtown Buffalo, helping feed the homeless, while also building relationships with the homeless.
"We know a lot of these guys by first-name basis, and they know us, which is a good experience. So we know we're safe when we're out here, but also just living in another man's shoes is definitely an experience everyone should have."
Both Alex and Nate felt it was important to carry on the tradition of homeless week not just to bring awareness of the homeless of Buffalo, but also to help out other families in need this holiday season through the Boxes of Love initiative.
Boxes of Love has grown over the years into a coalition of churches, businesses, and other individuals who work together in partnership with the Buffalo Dream Center to help families and other individuals in the Buffalo area.
"Growing up 25 years ago, my dad felt the need to give toys to children, and that's why this whole thing started. God put on his heart to come out onto the streets and live with the homeless to not only raise awareness for the homeless population, but to raise money to give toys to families in need for Christmas and food. And we've been a part of that ever since we've been born, and so we want to carry that on," Alex explained.
Nate says it wasn't a difficult decision to continue living amongst the homelessness, as him and his brother caught the vision just their dad did over 25 years ago.
"We both feel like this is what we're supposed to do, and our cousins have joined us," he noted. "Ultimately, just being able to raise that awareness and raise money to give toys to kids that don't get toys, or families that might not get food around this season is a great opportunity and a blessing to us as well."
Both Alex and Nate agree it's tougher to be homeless during the colder months, because those individuals have to fight the Western New York elements. They say doing this during the colder months is "a whole nother experience", but worth it all in the end.
"Honestly, rain is the worst, because you get wet and cold. Snow is not too bad. And so what we do to prepare is we make sure we're warm. We dress warm and we have the right stuff to sleep outside and everything. But ultimately, finding places to sit throughout the day to stay warm, finding good shelter to sleep under and all that, that's very important," Alex said.
"Sometimes you can't fight it. Sometimes you're just going to be cold, and that's the way it is and you kind of have to tough through it. But we do our best to stay as warm as we can," Nate added.
So how can you help contribute to the cause this holiday season?
"Everything you need to know about Boxes of Love or the Dream Center is found on our website, BuffaloDreamCenter.org," Alex noted. "On there is how you can volunteer. And so especially from now until Christmas Eve, every day, there's something that people can do: Wrap gifts, give out food, bag groceries, even give out toys. If they want to volunteer, it's very family friendly as well. We allow kids to come, we encourage families to come and bring everyone, a part of the family. They come, and they can volunteer, sign up to volunteer on our website, and also give. If people say, 'I can't volunteer, but I can give,' then you can also give at BuffaloDreamCenter.org."