Covid-19: Former homeless man now providing soap and water to help protect those on streets

Lecrae, Reach Records, coronavirus outbreak

The humble effort was joined in by Grammy-winning artist Lecrae and Reach Records who provided the first 15 portable sinks.

By Web Report

Published: Tue 24 Mar 2020, 9:45 AM

Last updated: Tue 24 Mar 2020, 11:52 AM

Once homeless himself, this man from Atlanta has placed portable sinks with soap and water on the streets so that the homeless can wash hands amidst the global coronavirus outbreak.
Terence Lester was homeless as a teenager and is now the executive director of the nonprofit Love Beyond Walls which is dedicated to helping the homeless. "All the news reports are saying wash your hands. But the homeless population often can't," Lester told CNN.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has been advising people to wash hands to keep the COVID-19 at bay which has killed over 14,000 people and left over 300,000 infected. But Lester said he found a solution with portable washbasins that are sold for RVs and camping.

We're on the frontlines making sure everyone (the whole community) has access to water and soap to keep themselves protected.
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Grateful for all the support! We hope people continue to love those living on the streets long after Corvus-19.
.#lovebeyondwalls @lovebeyondwalls pic.twitter.com/ufA9JtqVWu
- lovebeyondwalls (@LoveBeyondWalls) March 22, 2020

These sinks have a foot pump to bring water from a 5-gallon tank to the faucet and a soap dispenser. "I was trying to think of how they will survive. How can they get through this when they can't even wash their hands? So, I decided to start there," Lester added.
The humble effort was joined in by Grammy-winning artist Lecrae and Reach Records who provided the first 15 portable sinks to help Lester assemble them and place them around Atlanta. "It is encouraging to me that someone like him and the platform he has, that he is willing to roll up his sleeves and serve alongside you," Lester said.
The sinks are cleaned daily and refilled with water and soap. Lester stated that the nonprofit is raising money for more sinks which they can also ship across other states to homeless communities.