MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A place known for feeding people in need is closed after vandals knocked out dozens of windows.
The incident happened at The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Food Mission on Monroe Avenue.
The food mission is where some people get their only meals for the day, but now the hundreds they serve are forced to go someplace else.
“It was just — it was heartbreaking,” Gloria Hyden said. “It was just, I sat down and tried to absorb it all.”
Hyden is the president of The Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Memphis, which includes the Ozanam Center.
On Oct. 11, volunteers were just as shocked as the people they serve to find more than 40 windows broken.
“There was no damage inside. There was no entry inside. All the damage was done outside,” Hyden explained.
Hyden and many others hope this act was simply a criminal behaving badly and not a hate crime against a Catholic organization.
“I think within our heart of hearts we believe that it was not a hate crime and that it was more vandalism. Just vandalism. That’s what we’ll continue to pray about and for,” Hyden explained.
The mission not only serves the homeless, but also those struggling to get by.
As it goes through its insurance to fix the building, those in need are encouraged to hang in there until the mission can open its doors again.
“We are hoping to have it up and running by the end of October,” Hyden said.
Hyden said officers are reviewing cameras nearby and asking anyone with information to come forward.
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