Many people's Saturday mornings are spent reclining on a couch, in a chair, sleeping in late, or enjoying some other form of relaxation. Though on this past Saturday morning a group of men and women, around 25 in number, gave up their weekend rest to serve the residents of, "HopeVille." Hidden from the plain eye, tucked behind a set of abandon warehouse buildings on St. Louis's riverfront, just walking distance from the world famous Arch, is a homeless community that it's residents call, "HopeVille."

Most STL residents are unaware that along the St. Louis Riverfront is a cluster of plywood single room "houses" and tents.

Broken up into different sections or as they say "cities," on an estimate, "HopeVille" is the home of around seventy-five "permanent" residents, some even husband and wife.

"When I first visited Hope Ville," I entered their "city" expecting to find a group of broken people at their worst point, stricken by grief. Instead I found that most of the people there already had one of the things we were going to give them, "Hope," claimed Travis "Thi'sl" Tyler, founder of Rebuild StL.

Due to a lack of adequate garbage disposal, one of the biggest problems the residents of "HopeVille" face is excess trash pile up. "Upon visiting "HopeVille" previously and speaking with some of the residents we were able to compile a list of immediate needs that we could assist them with,"  stated Thi'sl.

*Cleaning up Trash

*Bottled Water (They have no running water)

*Candles (They have no electricity)

*Bus Tickets (To look for jobs/go to a shower)

On this Saturday morning with the help of donations, a group of volunteers and by the grace of God, Rebuild STL was able to meet those needs and then some. They departed "HopeVille" that afternoon with a group of people just as encouraged by the grace of God as the people that they went in to serve.

This is just the beginning of the work that they feel called to do in St. Louis and they want to continue serving their community. 

REbuild STL

JEREMIAH 29:7

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