He walks into a room full of lonely faces, people struggling day to day. He jumps behind the counter and starts serving food. As soon as everyone has a plate, he takes a seat beside a young man and says hello, simply starting a conversation with someone he has never met, something he does every week.
Blaine Townsend, this year’s Mr. Raider believes in helping others.
“Me and my friends go every week downtown to the homeless shelter,” Townsend said. “We pass out food and just hang out with them. We aren’t trying to preach to them, just try to love them, be the hands and feet of God.”
Townsend doesn’t waste time at the homeless shelter, he gets to know the people there like he would anyone else.
“They’re really cool and inspirational to me,” Townsend said.
This ministry of reaching out to the homeless came from Blaine himself, with, he says, a great deal of inspiration coming from God.
“In the summer one day I felt God want me to do something,” Townsend said. “Some friends and I got 100 water bottles and passed them out. We talked and prayed with people by the mission.”
Often times Blaine has the opportunity to do more than just talk and pray.
“[One time] We fixed this guy’s wheelchair,” Townsend said. “It was a pretty fun day and after that it kept growing. Got one shot on earth, live it up.”
The homeless ministry isn’t Blaine’s only place to serve.
“[I] talked to the orphanage,” Townsend said. “Felt like helping with the kids. After playoffs I’m going to go up there and help out with the kids. Play some sports with them.”
After high school, Blaine hopes to pursue athletics in college.
“Lots of colleges are looking at me,” Townsend said. “[I’ll] look into being a football coach or a minister. We’ll see what happens.”