DO-GOODERS // public service
Shower Power, ‘Loving the Homeless Back to Life’ // by richard coupe
courtesy teresa reckenburger
September 2 - 15, 2020 • boomjackson.com
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n Fridays, the festivities homeless people, Renkenbergbegin at 7 a.m. at 836 S. er recollects a time during her Commerce St. in downearly childhood when her father town Jackson. Around “literally threw my mother out 60 people gather, Flowood resithe front door while I ran out dent Teresa Renkenberger says, the back,” she says. to sing, dance, have lunch, get Had it not been for the some new clothes and most of kindness of others, she and her all, to take showers—as organized mother would have been homethrough Shower Power, a nonless themselves, she adds, and that profit that Renkenberger founded experience has led her to keep the and debuted in November 2019. downtrodden close to her heart. Most of the attendees are “I’ve always been in rescue homeless, as are some of the volmode. I rescue animals. If I hear unteers who help make sure the of somebody who needs someprogram runs smoothly. thing I try to go and save them. “We send everyone away If I only have a dollar, I will rewith snacks to last until we see ally give you 50 cents. Even if I ’em again,” Renkenberger says. needed that 50 cents,” she says. The realtor and mother of “My momma taught me to share. two came up with the idea of conI try to be compassionate and unverting a food truck into showers derstanding and know that I’m for the homeless while she was blessed now.” having a conversation with a Renkenberger overheard homeless friend. Renkenberger one of her volunteers, Mary asked her friend how long it had Anne Kirby, describing the work been since he had a real shower, of Shower Power: “We’re loving and she was stunned when he them back to life.” Renkenberger answered “a year.” adds, “And that’s what we’re do“I tried to look normal, but ing. … When they come to us, a in my mind I was like, ‘Oh my lot of them won’t look at us, but gosh. I have to do something,’” after (they shower), they look at Renkenberger recalls. us and feel important.” After talking the idea over When one of the homewith her husband, she searched less citizens asked her, “Why do for a used food truck for sale, you do this?” another homeless eventually finding one that Kevin attendee answered on her behalf, Poe was selling, and he offered to saying, “Because God is in her convert the vehicle into showers heart. She doesn’t push anything for the nonprofit to use. He has on us, but she is showing us who since become one of the organishe is and who she believes in.” zation’s volunteers. Bruce Wood “I couldn’t even talk and from JH&H Architects and his Shower Power founder Teresa Renkenberger (left) and board member Mary Ann Kirby (right) was crying,” Renkenberger wife, Jeannie, designed the inte- pose with Shower Power Friends, Regana and Jack (center) at the nonprofit’s location in says about hearing the gracious rior of the truck free of charge. response. downtown Jackson (836 S. Commerce St.), where homeless citizens may shower on Fridays. “It’s been very humbling, As for the future of Shower and it has certainly turned into way more than I just ever know this sounds selfish, but I felt like nobody was com- Power, Renkenberger plans to buy some washers and thought,” Renkenberger says. “When I started, I thought ing to my birthday party. Howard Ballou was there with dryers for their “Shower Power Friends” to use, a suggesthat I was doing it for one person, and then it turned into his news crew, and they were waiting,” Renkenberger tion she obtained after asking the homeless people who all these other people, which I’m so thankful for.” recalls. “One of the volunteers got into her truck and used their services what else they needed, to which many A lifelong resident of the Jackson area, Renkenberg- left saying she was going to find some (people in need), replied with “clean clothes.” er attended Northwest Rankin High School and later and she came back with three. They were so happy. They Showers are free to use every Friday from 7 a.m. ungraduated from Belhaven University. She has worked as a lived in the woods. They hadn’t had a shower in forever. til the last person leaves. Shower Power is set up at 836 S. realtor for almost 18 years now. Each of the three stayed in the shower for 45 minutes.” Commerce St. To learn more, visit showerpower.ms or find “On our first day open, we had to go find people. I When asked about why she feels driven to help the nonprofit on Facebook.
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