Robert Reedy and Ron Wood don’t serve the community in any elected capacity, but don’t think regular people can’t make a big difference in a community that faces its share of issues.

Reedy and his wife have been longtime supporters of Kallie’s Krusade, the Fight For Seely Foundation, the Kidney Foundation, Love Inc. and the Downtown Jamestown Christmas Parade for several years. But with the city seeing an increase in its homeless population, Reedy did something a little different a couple of Saturdays ago.

Those driving through Brooklyn Square saw a food truck and a table stocked with blankets. It was Reedy and his daughter, Jade Rivera, serving food and giving away blankets they had collected from area residents and businesses.

“We are all human beings, why don’t we all help each other?” Reedy said when The Post-Journal spoke with him about the impromptu benefit.

Wood, meanwhile, is in his second year leading Knights of Enchanted Dreams. The non-profit organization is located at 104 W. Second St., Jamestown, and is holding toy and coat drives for the second consecutive year. Wood is also planning a pair of community dinners on Nov. 20 and Dec. 18.

“People are struggling right now,” Wood said. “We’re trying to give back and support the kids and homeless in this community. We are working to make a change.”

Both men’s words carry particular weight as the city tries to deal with its growing homeless population. Some non-profits are working on building or developing new shelters, but those won’t be ready for the winter. That prompted Mayor Eddie Sundquist to ask churches to consider offering locations as temporary warming shelters this winter.

There are legitimate questions from the church officials, including staffing, security, coordination efforts amongst the government and non-profits trying to provide services and how services would actually be provided. While there are questions to be answered, many of the churches are willing to help even though they preferred a central location to make it easier for non-profits to try to help.

The effort to help the city’s homeless is, by necessity, coming together quickly. It won’t be easy. But small acts — like Reedy’s impromptu free meal or Wood’s work through Knights of Enchanted Dreams– by enough people can make a big difference this winter.