Wednesday evening marked the Carbon County Action Committee's annual participation in the Point in Time count, where local volunteers scoured the community to acquire accurate statistics on the homeless population for funding allocation.

A handful of volunteers met at the committee's base in Lehighton, where homeless assistance program director Kellie Cummings prepared the group with surveys and supplies. Other meeting centers included Emmanuel

U.C.C. in Bowmanstown, Boyer's Market in Lansford, Living Hope Lighthouse Church in Palmerton and Christ Lutheran Church in Jim Thorpe."It's a rural area, so it's hard," Cummings said of the challenges for the count. "You know how cities have the cliche burn barrels where they all gather around? Or they have more community centers, day centers, emergency shelters> We don't have that here. If we did have that, we'd be able to see larger numbers of homeless people who live around here."Some volunteers, like Dave Hayward of Lehighton, feel a religious inclination to pitch in and help survey the area."Matthew 25," Hayward said. "It says that we're supposed to be taking care of the homeless, the naked, the thirsty. That was one of the last things Jesus taught to his disciples before he was executed."Others, like Bob Richards, have been through hard times themselves, and would like to pay the good will forward."They helped me," he said in regard to the committee."I was homeless once myself. They helped me, so I help them. Matter of fact, she did a lot of the leg work, the red-tape cutting," he said as he pointed to Cummings.After splitting into small groups, Cummings, along with Richards and Lehighton resident Carl Ramsey, explored some trails along the nearby waterfront.Richards served as a de-facto leader, having explored and fished the area with his son quite often. As the group trudged through the muddy path, he pointed out a cave opening across the water."A man from Alaska once moved down here, and he mined there for gold. Must've known something we don't, because that's shale," he said.While one man was found sleeping in his car, he declined any help when offered.A few signs - a bicycle stored in an unused building, a fire pit under a bridge - indicated the presence of homeless people in the area, but the group did not find anyone else during the first trek of the long journey. This may have been due to those who reside in the area scattering before the search, as Cummings said."They run," she said. "They think if they're located, they're going to get kicked out … I'm actually trying to find them so I can help them, or at least get them supplies."Richards said that sightings are far more frequent during the warm seasons."During the summer, the spring, guys just hook hammocks on the trees and sleep right there," he said.The committee hopes to collect enough data from the count to effect some change in funding for services in the county. After the surveys are collected from the volunteers on Thursday, the information will be sent to Diane C. Myers, who handles the state's homeless count. Distribution of funds is determined by the county's information compared to other areas in the state.More funding could result in some welcome additions to the fight against homelessness."It could help the women's shelter, which Family Promise is trying to work on," Cummings said, going on to list some other potential projects. "We're trying to work on an emergency shelter, because we have a lot of transit individuals coming in and out of different counties, and a warming center."While volunteers for the count were greatly appreciated, the need for assistance and contributions is not limited to just one night - especially in the midst of winter, an especially dire time for homeless people and families."It's very important that we get more volunteers, that way we can cover more of Carbon County," Cummings said. "Donate to your local resource centers, Family Promise, Peaceful Knights, your local shelters. Talk to your churches, talk to your community, get the word out that we need a warming center here. If we had a location that they could go to where they would feel safe, that would be a key way to end homelessness here in Carbon County."