FORT WORTH, Texas — Following his faith, a Fort Worth man brings hope to people experiencing homelessness in the city when it seems like all odds are against them.
“This is the biggest thing that happened to us, man,” said Fort Worth resident Jeremy Johnson.
Johnson says having someone lift you up, even by a small gesture, is the greatest gift.
“There’s a lot of people out here that really want to get out of this situation and come out of this situation, and they’re just looking for chances and opportunties and not everybody is gonna give them opportunities,” he said.
Fortunately, people like David Wiggs, founder of Under the Bridge Ministries, are there showing them that there are people who truly care.
Wiggs started Under the Bridge Ministries in June 2020 out of concern for the homeless population during the pandemic.
He started by handing out 88 sack lunches by himself, which went very quickly, making him realize a one-time distribution was far from solving the problem. The next day, he returned with 100 more sack lunches and the following weekend with his grill to serve nice warm meals, and he has kept it up every weekend.
The name comes from his favorite song by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, in which the lyrics relate to the feeling of loneliness and hopelessness of being in the streets. That is what Wiggs wants to change for those he helps, whom he has established friendships with over time.
“If it's raining, sleet, hot, cloudy, no matter what, we’re here through all the weather conditions, the bridge covers us through all of it,” said Wiggs about his commitment to serving the vulnerable population.
He uses social media as a tool to spread the word about the need for help out near Fort Worth’s downtown, and how those residents struggle. He welcomes donations, but would like to see more hands involved on site making or distributing food.
Along with a group of volunteers, he makes sure there’s a cookout every Sunday under the I-35 bridge on Lancaster Avenue in Fort Worth- a gathering that restores a bit of their confidence and joy.
“I could get them cleaned up, dressed up and everything, you know, so I mean if we could help our people with a job, that’s beautiful,” said Wiggs, who also uses his barber skills while he visits his friends under the bridge to help them clean up a bit. His efforts are getting them one step closer to making it out of their current situation, because for the majority, getting a job and stable housing is the biggest goal.
"I’m not content with this situation. I want to get out of here, I want to perservere,” added Johnson.
However, being out on the streets brings about a series of hard-to-overcome obstacles.
“Like recently, I just had a foot amputated and that’s like a set-back everytime, and I had a car, and it broke down and you know it's just setbacks,” shared Johnson.
It is especially hard when the main thing you have to focus on everyday is surviving the elements, like the scorching hot Texas summer days.
“It's so hot we have coolers, we have ice, waters and Gatorades that really replenishes them,” said Wiggs. He tries to get them through it as best as he can, while giving them a sense of family with grilled food every week.
“To remember what it feels like to be back at home with the family-style barbeque and go back home,” he said.
Wiggs says he will be there to support them and make them feel like they matter for as long as he can, especially on important days.
“All this stuff is coming from him and he’s out here on his birthday. Not many people would come out here on their birthday and give love to the homeless,” said Curtis Leroy who stopped by for a haircut and burger on August 10, Wigg’s birthday.
“This is what I was born to do, so why not spend the day that I was born answering my calling,” said the 31-year-old Fort Worth resident.
His purpose is to remind them there’s hope under the bridge.