Merry Christmas to the needy and the homeless

[pinboy3niner]

Last edited Thu Dec 27, 2012, 10:57 PM - Edit history (2)

While those in need may be forgotten for much of the year, they do get attention at holiday events like this one in my communty:

My community had one of these holiday events, to serve Christmas dinner to the homeless, and people lined up down the block hours before it was to start...



Wade, the volunteer coordinator for the event, was nervous because only about 30 people had signed up in advance to volunteer. He needn't have worried, though. Well over 100 people showed up to volunteer.

Wade in conversation with a volunteer...




In addition to a couple of other jobs I had at the event, Wade appointed me "official photographer." Many attendees consented to having their photos taken, and some even posed for pics--even if the amateur photog cut off somebody's head...






The headless person was David, who told me about how he listened to a speech by President Obama about parental responsibilities, and about how, even though he was homeless, it was important to him to be there for his kids.

My friend Kaitlin, with whom I'd worked closely on a project last year, before she graduated high school, was amazing with David's kids, David Jr. and Anthony ...



Many of the volunteers came from local churches, including these beautiful ladies...



A volunteer offered to take a kid off one woman's hands so she could eat, but she wouldn't hear of it...she held onto her child...



Providing toys for the kids was really special...







This Christmas event was in Lancaster, California, at Grace Resource Center.

[pinboy3niner]

1. I neglected to include the link to the photo album:

http://s948.photobucket.com/albums/ad321/pinboy3niner/Christmas%20Dinner%202012%20at%20Grace%20Resource%20Center/?start=all

[a la izquierda]

2. K&r

And thank you

[Tsiyu]

3. Thank you and Merry Christmas

Taking care of the least of these...



they always need us; thank you for meeting the need.





and R

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

4. I grew up in the Antelope Valley

But it has sure changed since I left after High School....

Season's Cheer your way.

[pinboy3niner]

5. Season's cheer to you, too

I grew up "down below," in the San Fernando Valley, and ended up here only because I have a brother here. After Mom died I followed family and ended up in Quartz Hill, just down the road from my older brother in The Boulders (Palmdale). My little brother, who was up in Lompoc, died 2 years ago.

The AV is still a red Area, but we're starting to see some changes. We recently elected Democrat Steve Fox to the Assembly. I speak in the schools here, from AV College to the high schools and even, more recenly, in the elementary schools. I'm impressed by the students coming up today in places like Lancaster HS and Quartz Hill HS.

If you ever get back this way, look me up.

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

17. I was just down after Thanksgiving. for my yearly trip

and my Brother teaches at AV High School. My Aunt and Grandfather used to live in Quartz Hill. (Both passed on now.) My Grandmother lived in Sylmar when I was growing up, but moved to Idaho before she passed on. My English teacher in HS often mentioned the "Down Below" phrase we all used for the entire LA basin area.

Maybe next year, if I keep track of things...

[Fire Walk With Me]

6. This is the Trend! K&R!

[pinboy3niner]

7. It's important to find our compassion and look out for each other

[OneGrassRoot]

8. Grace Resource Center

PERFECT name.

Thank you for sharing this, and thank you to all the beautiful souls who attended this event!

[Fire Walk With Me]

9. I hope that you get to meet pinboy3niner someday. He's the real deal.

[OneGrassRoot]

11. I'd be honored...

I would LOVE to meet you guys in person one day.

[pinboy3niner]

10. Thanks for all you do, OGR

I'm just a dabbler, compared to you.

[OneGrassRoot]

12. ...

I see authentic compassion. Can't dabble at that.

Thank you for the kind words.

[pinboy3niner]

13. Kind of ironic...

As a VN war vet, I speak in our schools here. One thing I sometimes say is, "You ddn't have to go to Vietnam to find your conmpassion. But it sure could add a lot of depth."

The real hero of this story is a guy named Steve Baker. He wasn't on-site for the event, having a much-deserved day off with his family. Steve (or 'Bake,' as some call him) is the director of Grace Resource Center, and he's the guy who makes all of this happen.

I blush when anyone thanks me for what I do, because for me it's a lot of fun, especially meeting so many wonderful people who are involved--like Steve and his lovely wife, Alice. They're the real heros, not me. The positive things that are happening in my community are happening only because Steve Baker has been fighting for this for years.

[OneGrassRoot]

15. I hear you...

about not feeling comfortable with praise, especially because you enjoy it and it fills YOUR heart, so being of service to others is a gift to YOU.

That's how I feel, too.

So many wonderful souls out there doing wonderful things. Mr. Steve Baker and his wife, you, the other volunteers...and so many others in communities throughout the world.

I have tremendous faith in Humanity; we need all the compassion and courage we can muster to fight for social justice!

BTW, so cool that you speak at schools. Love, love, love that. More hugs for you!!!

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. You do well

And the trick to photos is telling a story, and taking lots of them. You do that.

[pinboy3niner]

16. Thanks, Nadin

You know well the difficulty in being a participant and an observer/reporter.

When I post items like this, I usually begin with not having a clue how to tell the story. We come back with tons of photos, and even going through them is a lot of work. That's something I dread, every time.

Yet, somehow the story emerges and we find a way to tell it...