HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ohio — Every Wednesday for the last 12 years, a group of Northeast Ohioans known as the 'Knight Riders' have helped those who face homelessness in our communities.
As a winter storm approaches, the Knight Riders are ready to be out in the snowy conditions for eight hours to help those in need.
"We don't deal with trying to fix the people," Bob Ukovic, president of Helping Hand Ministry at St. Paschal Baylon Catholic Parish in Highland Heights, told 3News. "We love them just as they are."
Typically, the Knight Riders help between 25 and 45 people every Wednesday night. However, Ukovic says during the winter, the numbers can fluctuate due to folks taking advantage of overnight shelters.
"It's not like we feed them and don't care about them after that," he said. "We know their birthdays, we know them by first name and it's not them, it's our family now."
Ukovic adds there's around 50 active volunteers that cycle through helping each Wednesday.
"We'll sit and talk for a few minutes — five minutes, or so," he said. "We'll break bread with them, we'll eat with them."
Ukovic says those facing homelessness love the Knight Riders, and the Knight Riders love them.