With Christmas upon us, I wanted to take the time to invite any of my local friends to come and help us with the Big Heart Ministries homeless feeding on Christmas Day. Every year, I volunteer on Thanksgiving and Christmas to help feed the vast number of homeless people who live in and around the downtown area the Holiday dinners so that they will feel loved and get to have a meal with all the trimmings just like the rest of us. Don Hart and his family have been doing ministry with the homeless for over 20 years, feeding and clothing them and helping them to find jobs and homes...he's a selfless, giving and extremely generous and passionate man for helping the poor and downtrodden. I felt called to help many years ago when I heard them extend an invitation over the air in their radio broadcast but they haven't had the funds for that program in several years. They've had hard times financially, theft, equipment problems and a constant battle with the City of Dallas to keep the ministry going.
I feel very strongly about all those involved and it always feels like I'm going "home" when I walk down the long sidewalk to the big open area in front of City Hall and see the tent awnings and trailers with all the familiar faces from the years before busily cooking turkeys and hams, preparing the veggies and breads, serving coffee to the homeless, setting up the many tables and chairs and assorting the clothes at the used clothing tables. At Christmastime, several ladies are also busy wrapping any unwrapped presents that were brought in. It's a festive, happy time with volunteers donning Christmas sweaters and Santa hats, scurrying about like Church mice, while others are arriving with sackfuls of clothing or carrying armfuls of pies and rolls. A large flatbed trailer is loaded with presents and used as a makeshift stage with large speakers playing Christmas music as people pass by singing and humming along. The homeless people are standing in the distance in the sun or seated (some lying) on the benches along the sidewalk with their blankets and backpacks while others are making their way down the streets and alleyways, smoking their cigarettes and talking amongst themselves...many of them have been friends on the streets for many years. They are extremely polite and helpful, always offering to lend a hand with carrying bags from the cars and then returning to their rightful places.
It's a time for giving and hoping for nothing in return and you realize how warm and rewarding that feeling is when it's all over with. I always leave with a sense of gratitude for what I have no matter how meager it may be and feeling like I'm so very blessed to have what I have. I don't have a big house or fancy car but when I'm driving away in my car, going home to my house...I have a feeling of just how fortunate I truly am. Not only that, the feeling I have in my heart is hard to describe as I'm slowly driving away watching the homeless, now full and carrying their presents and belongings, walking back into the streets and alleyways...it's a strange mixture of happiness and sadness. But I never leave without a renewed feeling of thankfulness to God and a pure joy in my heart.
This Christmas Day will be no different than all the others, thank God...downtown City Hall and the poor and unfortunate. If anyone would like to have the experience of serving the homeless people this Christmas, then please come. Most volunteers begin arriving at 8:30 - 9:00 a.m. The event is usually overwith by around noon, so there's still plenty of time for your own family but you can feel free to leave whenever you want.
Do it for yourself...you'll be blessed. :.)
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