Hearts, hands and a lot of faith
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on December 24, 2014 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
D.J. Coles, right, prays with Charoen Doole, of Dudley, for her continuing recovery from knee surgery three months ago. The Taiwanese native lost her husband shortly after the surgery and has been receiving assistance from Coles' group, 4-Day Movement.
A single mom living in her car with three children under the age of 5 -- huddled together beneath blankets, groceries on the front seat.
A young mother whose husband recently passed away, faced with having her electricity cut off and who didn't have enough gas in her car to drive back and forth to work.
A family of four sleeping in the same bed because they didn't have enough furniture.
These are the types of scenarios that need a miracle.
Or at the very least a few community heroes to step in and to provide help.
More than a year ago, D.J. Coles was awakened from a deep and restful sleep with a passion for the plight of those who have "fallen between the cracks of life."
Coles, who works with the WATCH mobile unit, which provides health services for the uninsured, is also Protestant youth director at the base chapel.
And now he is also director of the 4-Day Movement, an organization whose mission is to connect those who are struggling with resources within the community.
"The 4-Day Movement is about connecting the needs of others with resources, four days at a time," Coles said.
Through social media, Coles has been able to enlist help securing transitional housing, furniture and food, even funds to help pay an electric bill.
Not everything can be neatly accomplished in a four-day span, he explained, but the concept is definitely a good starting place.
"This is a grassroots model," he said, something that can be likened to missions trips and efforts like Habitat for Humanity, where big projects can be broken down into manageable pieces. "Four days, eight days, 12 days, 16 days, up to 20, but the majority of them literally happen in four days."
The scope of the fledgling effort covers a number of areas -- from crisis needs assistance to day-to-day necessities, education or tuition assistance, elderly needs or seasonal assistance, like winterization.
"The main thing we need is furniture," said Ruth Coles, D.J.'s wife and vice president of the initiative. "We always need donations, helping us respond to those in crisis -- lodging, groceries, gas cards.
"We don't go out and solicit for help. God just sends it."
"We have never looked for a 4-Day Movement," her husband noted.
Likewise, those responding to the needs have also been provided at the appointed time.
"People have come out of the woodwork -- we have angels," Coles said.
"It's like a floating team. Whenever a need arises, D.J. will ask for help, a truck, furniture, money," Mrs. Coles said.
Whether they get the word out through social media or a word of mouth, the couple are constantly amazed at the response from "community heroes."
"We like to call them heroes because they're stepping up," Mrs. Coles said.
Volunteers are always needed, sometimes just for an hour or two.
"Transportation is a major thing because some people can't get from place to place to apply for a job," Coles said.
"We also need trucks to help transport (furniture, etc.)," his wife added. "We have been able to borrow (trucks) but always have a need."
Non-profit status for the movement is pending, with hopes that the concept might spread to other communities.
"We're signed up as non-profit incorporated," Coles said. "We're also looking for donors and grants."
They are also hopeful about securing office space, once funds permit. Having a physical location would not only be beneficial in terms of the operation, but also as another resource, Coles said -- providing transitional housing for those who sometimes just need a place to stay for a few days until they can move into a home.
The concept for the 4-Day Movement may bear the faces of D.J. and Ruth Coles, but make no mistake, they say -- it comes straight from God.
"The 4-Day Movement is not about us. It's all about all of us and the resources that we all have," he said.
For more information on the projects, call 919-914-1214 or visit www.4daymovement.org or the Facebook page, 4 Day Movement, Inc.