Special Gifts from the Heart

We've received several donations of hand knit scarves, gloves, mittens, and hats. All are appreciated but one especially touching gift was delivered to the office door during the "chaos" that is Christmas week. When a Mission staff person went to answer the ringing bell, a woman was waiting outside with a small bag of knit hats in assorted colors. The woman was crying and barely managed to speak the words, "These are from a very special person." She went on to say that the person who made them had recently passed away. Before she did so, she charged the woman at our door with the responsibility of making sure the gift came to us. They were indeed made by a special person, someone who knit them with compassion and sincere concern for those in need. It is always humbling to be reminded, in the midst of the bustle and busyness, how precious it is to stand, as another supporter put it, as a vessel, carrying your gifts of compassion and placing them in the hands of those in need.

Thank you to the many, many of you who have been so generous this holiday season. God bless you and may you have a very, Merry Christmas!

Little Boy Blue

Yesterday, there were some rather excited noises coming from the chapel...not excited in a good way. A young boy, there with his mom and two other siblings, had come in for the noon meal. As is our policy, guests sign up for lunch between 11 a.m. and noon, have a short chapel service, then come through the public dining room for a hot meal. As we serve 2 meals a day to the public (not including breakfast to our guests), 365 days a year, staff has the routine down to a near science. Not that there aren't the occassional interruptions. Like yesterday.

The little guy was crying because, as he told a staff person while his family was signing in, he was hungry. How do you help a little, three year old boy, understand that food is coming? Bryan bustled the whole family into the dining room, so they could get some food into those hungry little bellies.

It's tragic that a mother with three small children has to look for a free meal...but it's good to know that those in need do have a place where they can go to get help. Whether they are three or eighty three. The generous donations of our faithful supporters make meals and our other services available to those in need. So that the thousands of people who come to the Mission find the lights on, the buildings warm, and the food delicious :) Thank you for helping us help others!