Why Did Filling The Gap Get Started?

All I can say is one weekend opened my eyes. One moment to be exact.

I was on a mission trip through the Urban Plunge and our leader was reading Matthew 25:34-40. The part of the passage that touched me the most was "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."

It was my "lightbulb moment" when I came to the realization that everyone is equal in God's eyes and that God led me on this trip to change my heart. After my return, I started to recognize the people I admittedly never paid much attention to on the streets. Taking what I learned, I started to take the time to talk to people who were asking for money on the streets near my work. I would ask them their names and just listen to whatever they wanted to share with me. I always remembered Matthew's gospel passage and I started to see Jesus in these people's eyes. I wanted to help them. I wanted to do whatever I could to lend a hand.

I learned so many things in just a few months. I learned many agencies out there can provide for people's basic needs. I learned some people, for one reason or another, don't want to leave their life on the streets. I also learned firsthand for those who DO want to get off the streets, it can be a monumental task.

For example, a homeless couple I met was in a situation where they found themselves suddenly on the streets,

It was the dead of winter and they were fighting each day to get something to eat, stay warm, and gather enough money to stay in a hotel room so they could stay together.

After a little digging, we found an agency who was willing to help with rental assistance and all we had to do was to find a place for them to live. That ended up being much more difficult than we could've ever imagined.

What we learned is that for those who may have a felony record, no credit history, and no rental history, the options were non-existent.

This is when I asked myself how I would feel trying to get back on my feet without a stable place to lay my head at night. Needless to say, it felt hopeless. Even though they held tight to their faith in God, my friends were very defeated.

Here is where the birth of the idea of Filling the Gap began because I knew something had to be done.

Yes, my new friends had made some mistakes in their lives, but who hasn't?

Did this render them unworthy of a second chance?

​I believe in my core that our God is the God of second chances. He had led me to my new friends and maybe, just maybe, he would lead more people my way so we could "fill the gap".

​Michael Fitzgerald
Executive Director