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Volunteers provide meals for the holidays at Minneapolis encampment

Volunteers spent Christmas Eve providing warm meals and winter gear to people experiencing homelessness in south Minneapolis.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — On Christmas Eve, volunteers gave back to those with no home for the holidays. 

"However we can help in a small way," said Marsha Carter, founder of the nonprofit Beyond the Dance Network (BTDN). 

Carter said while she can't solve the world's problems, she can do her part to help the community. 

"With Christmas Eve being on a Sunday, it just dropped in my heart to just say, 'Let's feed an encampment,'" Carter said. 

She, along with other volunteers, set up outside the old Kmart on Lake Street. Carter was born and raised in south Minneapolis. 

They served chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, baked beans, dinner rolls, chips, cookies, water and other snacks. They also provided winter gear including knitted hats, gloves and socks. 

"They're so appreciative of the warm meal and just letting them know that we do see them even if we don't have all the answers," Carter said. 

"It's fantastic," said John Maldeonado, who stopped by the encampment to visit some friends and grab a holiday meal. 

Maldeonado has been homeless for the past seven years. 

With no family around, Maldeonado said this time of year, "Is overwhelming sometimes." 

The event was sponsored by the BTDN program, Beyond New Distribution Center. BTDN focuses on helping underserved women and children in the urban community. 

Carter was joined by the organizations Dream Activation and Steps of Strategy

Steps of Strategy — a nonprofit that started in 2012 as a homeless prevention service and mentorship program — also handed out information on resources for people experiencing homelessness. It includes their Community Support Program 24-hour emergency line: 612-346-8064. 

Desmon Martin with Steps of Strategy said, in regards to doing this work on Christmas Eve, "It puts a bonus on it to really humble yourself and show you what is going on outside of yourself." 

"It's overwhelming. There's a joy to be able to do it but then there is an overwhelming emotional feeling to see how big the need is. But we can help meet it. If it's one person, one encampment, one family at a time," Carter said. "So that's what we're doing today. We're just saying Happy Holidays." 

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