"Angelbulance:" Area organization looks to renovate retired ambulance to help homeless
MILWAUKEE -- A community organization is in need of your help to purchase a special vehicle they think can make a big difference in helping the homeless.
Street Angels Milwaukee Outreach wants to purchase a retired evacuation ambulance from Tichigan that could help deliver hundreds of meals and blankets to homeless people across Milwaukee County.
27-year-old volunteer Keith Pratt dedicated his Saturday night to help feed the homeless at a meal site inside All Peoples Church. He knows all too well what they're going through.
"A few months ago, I was on the other side of this table, receiving food and I would love to give it to people who need it," said Pratt.
Keith Pratt
Pratt says he's now living a life of sobriety and owes it all to the Angels. Not from above, but those in the streets.
"We're typically out on the streets for four to six hours. This year alone, we've served 7,200 meals," said Eva Welch, President of Street Angels Milwaukee Outreach.
Welch says this year the group wants to take their mission of helping the homeless one step further by purchasing a retired evacuation ambulance.
They want to make it a mobile resource center that can increase the amount of food, blankets, and other items they deliver to those in need. They're nicknaming it the "Angelbulance."
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They hope the community can help them raise $10,000 to purchase the vehicle. As of now, they use their personal cars for their work.
"There are some nights where I'm so tired and I don't want to go and I start to picture them waiting for us to get that meal and that hug and that 'hey, how are you doing?' It just really picks you up to keep going," said Welch.
Volunteers like Pratt say the Angels deliver more than hot meals, they also provide hope to those who need it the most.
"If you don't know, they will help you find out what you need. If you're just kind of like 'I'm in a bad situation,' definitely reach out to the Angels and they will help you," said Pratt.
CLICK HERE if you would like to make a donation to support the Angelbulance.