WS Chronicle

By Busta Brown

Tanesha LaShay Hamilton always greets you with a warm smile and big hug when you see her.

“I haven’t got a chance to sit down all day, and I love it. It means I’ve been making a difference in our communities today.” She said that as she was smiling, hugging, giving out coats, hats, gloves, clothes, and blankets to people from all around Winston-Salem.

Last Saturday was her second year doing the Warmth & Love Project. “It was a dream I had last year where I was outside giving away blankets and coats to the homeless. After speaking with Apostle Gloria Samuels, pastor at Great Commission Community Church in Winston-Salem, about my dream, she said, ‘Let’s do it’ and we’ve made it happen again this year at Bethesda Center for the Homeless in Winston-Salem.”

The event took place Saturday, Nov. 18 from 2-4 p.m. and you could feel the warmth and love from those who gave and received. Hamilton said, “When you are in a position to bless others, that is one of the greatest gifts and blessings.”

Hamilton shared how beautiful her first Warmth and Love Project turned out last year. “We had a stage, music and performances. We served over 140 homeless people in need of coats, hygiene items, food and blankets. This year I added in warm accessories like hats, scarves, gloves and socks.”

Redeemer Presbyterian Church and Helping Hands Ministry donated items this year. “We have more than we had last year and if we haven’t given everything away I plan on riding around downtown Winston-Salem to give away anything else we have left to homeless that may be on the streets down there.”

Tanesha Hamilton graduated from North Carolina State University with a degree in communication.  She is a high school foods and nutrition teacher and sings with the music ministry at Great Commission Community Church. “Apostle Gloria M. Samuels is our senior pastor. She’s a great leader, and has a big heart herself. She loves giving and alongside my parents and grandparents she has been a great role model.” GC3 C.A.R.E.S. outreach ministry feed the homeless every 1st Thursday of the month at the Bethesda Center. I praised Hamilton for what she’s doing in our communities, and her response was very humble and as sweet as her spirit, “I’m just a 30-year-old trying to make a difference a little bit at a time. I enjoy helping others, if I have the means or a way to get it, I will do anything I can for you. My parents have taught me to help those in need because you never know when you need a hand. I enjoy seeing people smile with things that I’ve cooked, baked or done for them. It brings me joy when others are happy. I love doing this project and I’m hoping it can grow and get even bigger in years to come.”