HUDSON — “We don’t call them clients; we call them our neighbors,” says Phillis Martin of the 270 people, many of whom live outdoors, who frequent the Be A Light Mission Service Center in Hudson to get help meeting their most basic needs. “Our goal is to be the helping hand of Jesus to get them through the day,” said Martin, who is director of social work and case manager at the mission.
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, people can get a hot meal, a cool drink, a cold meal to take for the evening, a shower, clean clothing, a nap in a comfortable quiet room, along with, on certain days, help from one of the 14 organizations the mission partners with. It sees from 35 to 40 people a day; when it opened at its current location a year…