![]() ![]() Even if I needed that 50 cents," she says. If I only have a dollar, I will really give you 50 cents. If I hear of somebody who needs something I try to go and save them. Since then, she has kept the downtrodden close to her heart. ![]() Each of the three stayed in the shower for 45 minutes."Īt one point in her life, Renkenberger and her mother fell on hard times that nearly would have left them homeless had it not been for the kindness of others. "One of the volunteers got into her truck and left saying she was going to find some (people in need), and she came back with three. Howard Ballou was there with his news crew, and they were waiting," Renkenberger recalls. I know this sounds selfish, but I felt like nobody was coming to my birthday party. ![]() "On our first day open, we had to go find people. ![]() She has worked as a realtor for almost 18 years now. "When I started, I thought that I was doing it for one person, and then it turned into all these other people, which I'm so thankful for."Ī lifelong resident of the Jackson area, Renkenberger attended Northwest Rankin High School and later graduated from Belhaven University. "It's been very humbling, and it has certainly turned into way more than I just ever thought," Renkenberger says. Bruce Wood from JH&H Architects and his wife, Jeannie, designed the interior of the truck free of charge. He has since become one of the organization's volunteers. I have to do something,'" Renkenberger recalls.Īfter talking the idea over with her husband, she searched for a used food truck for sale, eventually finding one that Kevin Poe was selling, and he offered to convert the vehicle into showers for the nonprofit to use. "I tried to look normal, but in my mind I was like, 'Oh my gosh. Renkenberger asked her friend how long it had been since he had a real shower, and she was stunned when he answered "a year." The realtor and mother of two came up with the idea of converting a food truck into showers for the homeless while she was having a conversation with a homeless friend. "We send everyone away with snacks to last until we see 'em again," Renkenberger says. Most of the attendees are homeless, as are some of the volunteers who help make sure the program runs smoothly. Around 60 people gather, Flowood resident Teresa Renkenberger says, to sing, dance, have lunch, get some new clothes and most of all, to take showers-as organized through Shower Power, a nonprofit that Renkenberger founded and debuted in November 2019. On Fridays, the festivities begin at 7 a.m. ![]()
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