NASHVILLE, Tenn. — On any given Wednesday, you can find Sheldon Diggs serving up warm meals to Nashville's homeless at the First Lutheran Church but that always wasn't the case.
Diggs, founder of Souls United, started feeding people living on the street two years ago at Church Street Park. He said he can relate to the people he feeds.
"I have experienced homelessness myself, it was very hard to find a place. I'm an Army veteran, so I went through the program myself, the homeless program at the VA to be able to find a place to stay. So that's how I know that you can get help and get off the streets," Diggs said.
Although Diggs began feeding people alone, volunteers have joined in his effort to provide meals Nashville's homeless over the years.
"It was just me. I started with a table and a pot of beans and hot dogs and I wanted to do something to help and so I just went out there and it just happened. But today it's grown to what you have seen today," Diggs said.
Through word of mouth, First Lutheran Church has provided a place for Diggs to continue to feed the homeless every Wednesday at noon at the church's basement.
Barbers with the Genesis Barber Program also provide free haircuts in another room.
Larry Ellerby, a Nashville native who is homeless, said he appreciates what Diggs is doing for the community.
"But you got to know the streets to be on the streets. A lot of people are on the streets but they don't really know them, but he does. He's got connections," Ellerby said.
Souls United also provides warm showers and clothes for attendees. Diggs said he hopes to one day become a 501c - non-profit organization.
He said his organization would not be what it is today without volunteers and social media.
Urban Eco Village , and Project ID, which provides identification cards to the homeless, also participate in the weekly feeding.
