Three people on a mission to feed the homeless in Charlottesville and beyond

[July 30, 2020: WHSV 3] Taking the time out of your day to stop and help people in need is what three incredible people are doing at The…

[July 30, 2020: WHSV 3]

Taking the time out of your day to stop and help people in need is what three incredible people are doing at The Haven in downtown Charlottesville.

“We’re helping homeless people because we want them to succeed in their life,” 9-year-old Jayden Toye said.

Toye is helping his dad, Jerome Henry and his dad’s friend Robert Anderson, give back to the community by bringing food and drinks to homeless people.

Anderson and Henry regularly pick up food from a nearby drive thru to give people who need it the most something to eat and drink. They’ve been doing it together since the beginning of June.


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“They’re just people just like me and you. They bleed just like us and they have feelings just like us, so why not treat them like that,” Anderson said.

The need for comfort right now is more important than ever before and that’s why these three are there to stop, help, and listen.

After bringing the food into The Haven, they regularly sit down to talk with the people in the shelter and listen to whatever they want to discuss. “A lot of people have lost jobs. A lot of people are just losing hope, and I’m here to bring that back here with me,” Anderson said.

“It’s very easy, it fills someone’s stomach. It takes five minutes to go to a drive-thru, pick up a sandwich, and help someone in need,” Henry said.

Buying food for those in need is not new to Henry. He says he’s been doing this on his own for six years while traveling for work. “I drive a lot for work and when I’m passing by and see someone in distress, I stop and talk to them and give them water and food. I’ve been to Maryland, Washington, D.C., New Jersey, Pennsylvania,” he said.

Bringing his son Jayden to the shelter at a young age teaches him life-long lessons that Henry wants him to remember. “It’s important to bring him to show him that what it could end up like and not take life for granted,” Henry said....MORE



Joseph Shavit
Joseph ShavitSpace, Technology and Medical News Writer
Joseph Shavit is the head science news writer with a passion for communicating complex scientific discoveries to a broad audience. With a strong background in both science, business, product management, media leadership and entrepreneurship, Joseph possesses the unique ability to bridge the gap between business and technology, making intricate scientific concepts accessible and engaging to readers of all backgrounds.