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‘Loving everybody from a distance’: Mobile shower unit offers dignity to homeless 

Photos and story by Eric J. Shelton | April 7, 2020

Teresa Renkenberger only thought she was helping a homeless friend when she created Shower Power. Today the mobile unit helps several people in Jackson’s homeless community, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. 

After Renkenberger developed a friendship with Bennie, a homeless man she met on Lakeland Drive, she discovered during their year-long friendship Bennie had not taken a shower that year. “We started only thinking that we were going to shower Bennie, but it turned into showering about 65 people, so it has really grown,” said Renkenberger.  “The shower is our vessel to reach these people.” 

Every Friday from 9 a.m. to about 3 p.m., Renkenberger and her son, Jarred Couch, use a food truck that has been converted to a mobile shower to help one of the most vulnerable communities in Jackson. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, they will also be operating on Tuesdays. After reaching out to Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba, Renkenberger confirmed that her business could remain open during the shelter-in-place order because it is considered essential.

Not only does Shower Power offer showers for the homeless, the mobile unit provides a necessities bag that includes toiletries, and they serve home cooked meals. “We are trying to change everyone’s life and make a difference one shower at a time,” Couch said. 

Before the coronavirus outbreak, the mobile shower unit gave haircuts and shaves. They would also provide clothes and books. Renkenberger and Couch also pray with many in the community, but now they remain 6 feet apart. “We are loving everybody from a distance,” Teresa said. “But, what we do is help people get clean and feel loved and worthy.”

Visit Showerpower.ms to see how to help. 

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Photo Gallery: Shower for the homeless during coronavirus pandemic

by Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today
April 7, 2020

<h1>Photo Gallery: Shower for the homeless during coronavirus pandemic</h1> <p class="byline">by Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today <br />April 7, 2020</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h1 class="has-text-color" id="h-loving-everybody-from-a-distance-mobile-shower-unit-offers-dignity-to-homeless" style="color:#00829b">'Loving everybody from a distance': Mobile shower unit offers dignity to homeless&nbsp;</h1> <h5 class="has-text-align-center" id="h-photos-and-story-by-eric-j-shelton-april-7-2020">Photos and story by <a href="https://mississippitoday.org/author/eshelton/">Eric J. Shelton</a> | April 7, 2020</h5> <div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter" data-effect="slide"> <div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container"> <ul class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper"> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-585118" data-id="585118" src="https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/06225045/MG_7502-scaled.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Shower Power Mobile Unit in the 800 block of South Commerce Street in Jackson, Miss., Friday, April 3, 2020.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-585124" data-id="585124" src="https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/06225019/MG_8085-scaled.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Teresa Renkenberger talks to a homeless man outside of the Shower Power Mobile Unit in the 800 block of South Commerce Street in Jackson, Miss., Friday, April 3, 2020.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-585119" data-id="585119" src="https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/06225040/MG_7983-scaled.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Timothy Riles enjoys as meal outside of the Shower Power Mobile Unit in the 800 block of South Commerce Street in Jackson, Miss., Friday, April 3, 2020.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-585117" data-id="585117" src="https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/06225049/MG_7491-scaled.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Teresa Renkenberger, left, and Jarred Couch sit on the back of a food truck that has been converted into a mobile shower unit called Shower Power. The mobile unit provides showers for Jackson's homeless community. </figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-585116" data-id="585116" src="https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/06225054/MG_7466-scaled.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Jarred Couch shows the inside the Shower Power Mobile Unit in the 800 block of South Commerce Street in Jackson, Miss., Friday, April 3, 2020.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-585122" data-id="585122" src="https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/06225028/MG_8053-scaled.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Jarred Couch talks to members of Jackson's homeless community in efforts to meet some of their needs in Jackson, Miss., Friday, April 3, 2020.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-585123" data-id="585123" src="https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/06225023/MG_8061-scaled.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">A homeless man rests outside of the Shower Power Mobile Unit in the 800 block of South Commerce Street in Jackson, Miss., Friday, April 3, 2020.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-585121" data-id="585121" src="https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/06225032/MG_8037-scaled.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Medgar May enjoys a meal near the Shower Power Mobile Unit in the 800 block of South Commerce Street in Jackson, Miss., Friday, April 3, 2020.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-585126" data-id="585126" src="https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/06225010/MG_8107-scaled.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Trina P. carries plates of food Friday, April 3, 2020.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-585125" data-id="585125" src="https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/06225014/MG_8099-scaled.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Jackson police officers stop to make sure that people are 6 feet apart outside of the Shower Power Mobile Unit in the 800 block of South Commerce Street in Jackson, Miss., Friday, April 3, 2020.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-585120" data-id="585120" src="https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/06225036/MG_8010-scaled.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Used towels after showers near the Shower Power Mobile Unit in the 800 block of South Commerce Street in Jackson, Miss., Friday, April 3, 2020.</figcaption></figure> </li> </ul> <p><a class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white" role="button"></a><a class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white" role="button"></a><a aria-label="Pause Slideshow" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause" role="button"></a></p> <div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white"></div> </div> </div> <p>Teresa Renkenberger only thought she was helping a homeless friend when she created Shower Power. Today the mobile unit helps several people in Jackson’s homeless community, especially during the coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;</p> <p>After Renkenberger developed a friendship with Bennie, a homeless man she met on Lakeland Drive, she discovered during their year-long friendship Bennie had not taken a shower that year. “We started only thinking that we were going to shower Bennie, but it turned into showering about 65 people, so it has really grown,” said Renkenberger.&nbsp;&nbsp;“The shower is our vessel to reach these people.”&nbsp;</p> <p>Every Friday from 9 a.m. to about 3 p.m., Renkenberger and her son, Jarred Couch, use a food truck that has been converted to a mobile shower to help one of the most vulnerable communities in Jackson. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, they will also be operating on Tuesdays. After reaching out to Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba, Renkenberger confirmed that her business could remain open during the shelter-in-place order because it is considered essential.</p> <p>Not only does Shower Power offer showers for the homeless, the mobile unit provides a necessities bag that includes toiletries, and they serve home cooked meals. “We are trying to change everyone’s life and make a difference one shower at a time,” Couch said.&nbsp;</p> <p>Before the coronavirus outbreak, the mobile shower unit gave haircuts and shaves. They would also provide clothes and books. Renkenberger and Couch also pray with many in the community, but now they remain 6 feet apart. “We are loving everybody from a distance,” Teresa said. “But, what we do is help people get clean and feel loved and worthy.”</p> <p><em>Visit <a href="https://showerpower.ms/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Showerpower.ms</a> to see how to help. </em></p> <p><p>&nbsp;</p> <p>This &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://mississippitoday.org/2020/04/07/photo-gallery-shower-for-the-homeless-during-coronavirus-pandemic/&quot;&gt;article&lt;/a&gt; first appeared on &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://mississippitoday.org&quot;&gt;Mississippi Today&lt;/a&gt; and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.&lt;img src=&quot;https://i0.wp.com/cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/06074517/MT_icon-logo-favicon-1.png?fit=134%2C150&amp;amp;ssl=1&quot; style=&quot;width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;&quot;&gt;&lt;img id=&quot;republication-tracker-tool-source&quot; src=&quot;https://mississippitoday.org/?republication-pixel=true&amp;post=585127&amp;amp;ga4=G-VSX4B701MS&quot; style=&quot;width:1px;height:1px;&quot;&gt;&lt;script&gt; PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: &quot;https://mississippitoday.org/2020/04/07/photo-gallery-shower-for-the-homeless-during-coronavirus-pandemic/&quot;, urlref: window.location.href }); } } &lt;/script&gt; &lt;script id=&quot;parsely-cfg&quot; src=&quot;//cdn.parsely.com/keys/mississippitoday.org/p.js&quot;&gt;&lt;/script&gt;</p> Copy to Clipboard

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