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Volunteers Pastor Frank Tillman Jr., Randolph Adams and Dora Paschal with the Rev. Floyd Palmer at Shuman Juvenile Detention Center |
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On any given Sunday afternoon since 1994, you most likely will have found the ever-kind and compassionate Rev. Floyd Palmer spending up to three hours of his afternoon at
Shuman Juvenile Detention Center - part of Foundation of HOPE's Chaplaincy program - offering services to the approximately 50 residents* under the age of 18 who reside at the center. Mind you, each Sunday, the 75-year-old Penn Hills resident travels to preach at his congregation, Shiloh Baptist Church in Butler County, only to travel back to Shuman, located near Highland Park, by 3 p.m., where he spends the rest of his afternoon. Rev. Palmer and volunteers visit each of the living units to preach to, and support the youths who are incarcerated there. Why has Rev. Palmer been doing this for 22 years?
"The Spirit of the Lord got me to do what I do. He gave me the patience to work with older and younger people ... He sent me to Shuman Center to help the younger people there." Rev. Palmer, who is also a barber, added with a laugh, "Being a barber, you need a lot of patience!"
*In the 1990s, up to 150 residents could be housed at Shuman. Due to housing alternatives, in addition to juvenile offenders now going to Allegheny County Jail after being charged with adult crimes, the number of Shuman residents has significantly decreased.
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