REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. - The cold weather is making life even harder for those in need, but one organization in Sussex County is helping to keep people warm and fed.
Lighthouse for Broken Wings went from one woman's simple promise, to a beacon of hope for those who need it.
Founder Toni Short had nowhere to call home in 2014, but her passion to help those around her never wavered.
She said, "I asked them what they need, they said shelter. In 2015 I said 'oh, I can get you that.'"
Since that promise was made Short made it her goal to give a home and a hot meal to everyone she could.
Now, Lighthouse for Broken Wings gives hope, and shelter, to those who need it.
"We've been looking so hard and, just, it feels like dead ends. My attitude has changed quite a bit because there's so many people here that help and we were definitely not used to it," said Alissa Sweeten, who found support through Lighthouse for Broken Wings.
Short says she could not do it without the community's unwavering support, "The community has pulled together, I have never seen so much joy and support and hope. The community is what helped me to be able to keep this open."
Volunteers like Ethan Gillespie help give out food and provide security if anyone is out alone at night.
He says, "It opens your eyes a little bit, like it shows what you can do for somebody and how much you can do yourself to give to somebody, even though you have nothing at all. It doesn't matter about money it doesn't matter about anything, it matters what you give to somebody else."
Latoya Edwards says she is on the right track after getting help from Lighthouse for Broken Wings. Now, she wants to pay it forward, and start her own non-profit as soon as she is able to.
"Just pass on love, all the time, if you can," Edwards said, "I don't care if it's a handshake, a have a good day, just one hug to another person, just give that. That's what I ask"
Lighthouse for Broken Wings hasn't slowed down from the pandemic either. They always take temperatures of people coming in, and, of the 70 people that have taken COVID tests, they're proud to say they've had 70 negatives.
