FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. \u2014 Residents at The Caring Place, a homeless shelter exclusively for men, enjoyed a special Christmas Day thanks to donors, volunteers and staff. The shelter serves men ages 18 and older.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday we are filling in as the secondary family for a lot of our residents, who cannot be with their own family, and some of them we are filling in as their primary family,\u201d said Omar Herrera, who works at The Caring Place.<\/p>\n
About 300 men started the day with a holiday breakfast that included eggs, grits, biscuits and corned beef hash. Residents also shared their personal stories and the paths that brought them to the shelter.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was absolutely broke down, homeless, and drug addicted. I couldn\u2019t stop using on my own and I came to the regeneration program specifically to deal with my drug addiction,\u201d said resident Norman Brooks.<\/p>\n
\u201cNine months ago I realized that my life-controlling problems, the drugs and alcohol, were totally ruining my life. I knew I needed to change. So I decided to try and make that transformation, led me here to The Caring Place, and it\u2019s been the best decision I\u2019ve made in my life,\u201d said resident Patrick Paul.<\/p>\n
Residents at The Caring Place work on bettering themselves through education, pursuing sobriety, and seeking stable employment. On Christmas, the shelter offered gifts, shoes, clothing, accessories, and hygiene products.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile you are over there with your family, I\u2019m over here with my family, the staff, the residents!\u201d Paul said.<\/p>\n
Volunteers and staff helped make the day memorable, ensuring residents felt remembered and celebrated during the holiday season.<\/p>\n
\ud83c\udfe0 News From Your Neighborhood<\/p>\n
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