GREEN BAY, Wis. – On Sunday morning, members of Remnant Church transformed the City Deck into a stark visual of homelessness by laying out 206 sleeping bags, the number of people counted as unhoused in a recent point‑in‑time survey. Pastor Scott Eastman explained that seeing the bags side‑by‑side makes the crisis “too big to ignore,” and the display was intended to spark conversation and compassion among passersby.
Why 206?
The figure comes from a July count of Green Bay’s unhoused population. Homeless Initiative Project Director Josh Benti said the count provides a snapshot that helps the community understand the scale of the problem, and a follow‑up count is scheduled for January. By arranging the bags in a single line, the church hoped to give residents a concrete sense of the magnitude of need.
Community response
Visitors to the deck reacted quickly. One woman who stopped to ask about the display decided to add ten more sleeping bags and a bag of hand warmers to the donation pile. Local volunteers also helped distribute the bags after the event, ensuring they reach organizations that provide shelter and supplies.
Message from church leadership
“I don’t know how you could hear a story and just say ‘tough luck,’” Pastor Eastman said. He emphasized that the church’s role is not only to provide material aid but also to encourage people to ask questions, treat the unhoused with dignity, and avoid turning a tragic statistic into a distant headline.
For Eastman, each bag represents a human story that deserves to be heard. “We have to stop ignoring,” he added, urging the broader community to engage in dialogue and action.
Next steps
The church plans to continue its outreach, inviting residents to volunteer for the upcoming January count and to support local shelters. By turning a public space into a reminder of a pressing social issue, Remnant Church hopes to inspire lasting change rooted in faith, compassion, and community involvement.
All 206 bags will be donated to local charities for distribution, and the church encourages anyone interested in helping to contact the Homeless Initiative Project for volunteer opportunities.
Original reporting: FOX 11 WLUK Green Bay (local) — read the source article.
