DENTON, Texas — Homelessness remains on the minds of many major cities in Texas, and in Denton, Texas, Jane Piper-Lunt has taken the matter into her own hands.
“I’m going to be honest, I feel like this is what God wants me to do,” Piper-Lunt said.
Piper-Lunt has had a passion for homeless people for most of her life. Since 1985, she has given a helping hand to individuals who are homeless. It’s why she founded the Denton Basic Services Center, creating many different efforts to help those in need.
“We have, I’m guessing, around 500 unhoused,” Piper-Lunt noted.
In June of 2021, she and other members of the nonprofit recently started the Water Cooler Project. At its creation, the project received a plethora of donations and volunteers.
“In two days, we had two coolers out, and then, and that’s grown to nine. And we’ve paired down to six or seven,” she said.
It was only meant to last the summer but its continued success and use has turned it into a year-round project.
Beth Varma joined Piper-Lunt’s team earlier this year. She’s in charge of fundraising and overseeing the water cooler project.
“I think that we kind of forget that there are others in need. We get so caught up in our own lives,” Varma said.
Varma has been tasked with restocking each cooler and enlisting the help of volunteers. However, both women are needing volunteers now more than ever before.
“We probably need at least 12 to 15 more,” Varma added.
This comes as the Denton Basic Services Center is pushing the City of Denton to create a self-sufficient tiny home community. With frigid temperatures becoming more regular, Piper-Lunt hopes a little hydration will go a long way for the homeless community in Denton.