With early evening temperatures hovering near 45 degrees, a moderate wind may have cut into winter wear but not into the spirit of more than 100 people wearing it in downtown Texarkana Friday.
The weather could hardly deter the group gathered in a small field near the Salvation Army building as the collected learned more about helping local homeless people during the sixth annual Bridge City Project.
The main point of this gathering is to learn more what causes homelessness, about the people experiencing it and what the public can do to help them, said Alaina Marcum, chairwoman of the Texarkana Homeless Coalition.
The first of these annual events, which took place in the same location in 2014, focused on what it felt like to survive in frigid weather as people with homes attempted to sleep in cardboard boxes
"The first year was helpful, but it didn't really represent a cross section of how homeless people live," Marcum said. "Many actually live in tents and abandoned buildings. "Our main concern this year is to focus on what causes homelessness and what we can do to help serve homeless people.
Marcum said last year's event, which was held near the Randy Sams' Outreach Shelter, raised about $3,000 to aid those needing shelter. It drew about 50 participants. This year, she said she hopes they raise $5,000. The money raised will be used fund scholarships for former homeless residents seeking to go to college and get a job.
Last year's fundraiser drew six local chili cooking teams, but this year had 13 teams. The event featured live music and even a movie titled "Same Kind of Different as Me."
One of the chili cooks, Tiffany Studebaker, a Dunbar Early Education teacher, said this is her first year to participate.
"I love this-giving the homeless any support I can," she said.
Besides holding the fundraiser, Marcum said the coalition also conducted a count of local homeless people-one which added up to 133 last year. This year's count, which is still being conducted, will focus more on demographic data, such as age, gender, race, health and other details.
"We are doing this to give us a better idea of how to help our local homeless residents find homes and services," Marcum said.