COLONIAL HEIGHTS, Va. — What started as a simple gesture by employees of a Tri-Cities business group to help feed homeless people in Hopewell has sparked a grassroots movement to address the same need in Colonial Heights.
Michael Vanwyck, who owns three businesses in Colonial Heights, was inspired to act after learning that some of his employees had volunteered with an organization feeding the homeless in nearby Hopewell.
“My sister took the extra 10 meals to the homeless right here in Colonial Heights and we realized that there was a big need to be able to help,” Vanwyck said.
The experience opened his eyes to a growing problem in his own community. Now, Vanwyck is leading an effort to provide hot meals to the homeless in Colonial Heights every Monday, starting September 8 on the south end of the Boulevard.
“A hot meal with a drink or a side, and then we’ll have containers here they can take it to go or they’ll be able to sit inside and eat,” Vanwyck said…