Helping the Homeless over the Holidays
@DeborahDiane (40843)
Laguna Woods, California
December 14, 2018 6:53pm CST
Tonight, my husband and I are going to the local homeless shelter to feed the homeless. I always take a salad for 80 people. Others pay for the fried chicken or prepare vegetables and cut-up fruit. This month is the annual holiday dinner, so things are a little more festive than normal.
In addition to dinner, one of the men from our church will bring his guitar and play cheerful holiday songs which are not religious, such as "Jingle Bells" and "Grandma Got Run over by a Reindeer." Many of the homeless will sing along!
If you look at the mat on the floor on the far right side of the photo, you will see that some of the homeless put sheets and blankets on their mats. The simple humanity of putting clean sheets on the mats always touches me.
Tomorrow morning, all the homeless who hang out around Laguna Beach are invited to have breakfast in the fellowship hall of our church. After breakfast, they will be given new sleeping bags and backpacks, stocked full of supplies they might need.
In Los Angeles, a number of parking lots next to churches and businesses have been designated as legal, free overnight parking places for the homeless who sleep in their cars. This gives them a safe, patrolled place to sleep and they will be offered services to help them get healthcare or into permanent housing, when possible.
While we have a long way to go to solve our homeless problem, I'm happy to see some progress is being made. It's a start.
14 people like this
17 responses
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
15 Dec 18
@much2say - Thank you! My husband and I enjoy spending time at the shelter helping people when we can.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502148)
• Italy
16 Dec 18
@DeborahDiane Those in the photo are the rooms for the homeless here. As you see the room is clean, they also receive a clean towel so that they can shower and they have two hot meals a day. With the increase of immigrants from Italy, we are building rooms for an additional 300 beds.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
17 Dec 18
@LadyDuck - Those facilities are very nice. The homeless shelter where I volunteer also has showers and towels the homeless can use, as well as a washer and dryer they can use free. They get a hot dinner, but a cold snack of some kind for breakfast. Sometimes they are also given sandwiches to take with them for lunch.
Unfortunately, we make them leave the shelter every morning and come back in the evening, so many of them have nothing to do all day except walk around, dragging their belongings around in a suitcase. I hope we find better solutions someday.
Thank you for sharing the photo of the homeless shelter in Switzerland.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
15 Dec 18
@LadyDuck - Yes, we have a terrible homeless problem, but we are gradually making some progress in the right direction. I am happy to see that happening.
1 person likes this
@mayka123 (17083)
• India
6 Jan 19
@DeborahDiane You will always be blessed for that
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
2 Jan 19
@mayka123 - Thank you. I enjoy doing it.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
6 Jan 19
@mayka123 - Thank you. I always look at those people and say to myself, "There, but for the grace of God, could go me."
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
15 Dec 18
@Shavkat - We really enjoy doing it. It makes us feel good.
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (141906)
• Philippines
16 Dec 18
@DeborahDiane I used to do such volunteering work before. It is a never-ending story.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
17 Dec 18
@Shavkat - Yes, there is never an end to the need. You have to do the things you are able to do and that you enjoy doing.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
24 Dec 18
@porwest - Thank you! We always have a good time when we spend an evening with the homeless. It reminds us that even people on the street have interests, feelings, and humanity.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
29 Dec 18
@porwest - Well said ... they have interests and feelings, but no homes or money. Life is tough for them.
1 person likes this
@porwest (112717)
• United States
29 Dec 18
@DeborahDiane Just no house and no money. 
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
15 Dec 18
@Karenmm - Thank you. We enjoy helping the homeless people in our community.
@Karenmm (881)
• Nairobi, Kenya
16 Dec 18
@DeborahDiane that's nice...if you enjoy doing that....it shows that you have a lovely heart
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (17239)
• China
16 Dec 18
The homeless are fortunate enough to receive help from the people of deep humanity,including your good self.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (17239)
• China
17 Dec 18
@DeborahDiane You are a kind-hearted lady.Not everyone is willing to do it.However many people think that it is more blessedto give than to receive.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
17 Dec 18
@changjiangzhibin89 - Yes, I definitely believe it is more blessed to give than receive, and I always feel good after I volunteer for a worthy cause.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
17 Dec 18
Thank you. I think it is sad that there are people who are homeless in our country and I am happy to help them as much as I can.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
15 Dec 18
@id_peace - Yes, small actions make a big difference.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (135583)
• Marion, Ohio
15 Dec 18
Thats wonderful that they have safe places to sleep.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
15 Dec 18
@wolfgirl569 - I agree. Not everyone can have a fancy place to call home, but everyone deserves to have a place to sleep where they feel safe for a few hours. I'm glad they are able to make arrangements for more and more people.
@RasmaSandra (97912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
15 Dec 18
That is just wonderful. Blessings to all of you for doing such a great job to help the homeless.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
15 Dec 18
@RasmaSandra - Thank you. I feel that the world is changed by lots of people doing small things.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23979)
• United Kingdom
15 Dec 18
Christmas is such a sad time of year for many people. Thank you for caring about those less fortunate than ourselves.Aside from the seriousness of this post I had to giggle when I read cheerful songs...........What can be cheerful about a grandmother being run over! Sorry I know I should not have laughed at that!
My heart bleeds for people who are lonely at this time of year. We are becoming more and more mindful of those who have nothing and there are so many people such as you who give up their time selflessly to let others know someone does care. Thank you again !
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
15 Dec 18
@garymarsh6 - My husband and I love helping the homeless in our area. We are getting to know some of them and we are delighted when some of them find permanent housing. It feels like such a victory!
I don't mind you laughing about "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer!" The song is supposed to be funny. At the end, the final line is "you may not believe in Santa, but as for me and grandpa, we believe!" LOL My grandkids love singing that song although, of course, I know they would be devastated if it actually happened!
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
24 Dec 18
I'm sure you gave much joy to the homeless, Ms. Joy. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
26 Dec 18
@sunrisefan - Thank you! Merry Christmas to you and your family, too!
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
26 Dec 18
@DeborahDiane You're welcome and thanks too, Ms. Deborah :)
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
21 Dec 18
The holiday season is so difficult for the homeless and less fortunate. Your kindness I am sure is truly appreciated! Christmas is a time of giving and forgetting about oneself and thinking of others. I bet you get back far more in happiness in seeing the joy in those you helped than you could ever imagine.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
23 Dec 18
@dgobucks226 - Yes, I definitely get back more in happiness than what I give to the homeless. It makes me feel good to know their lives are a little a better.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
24 Dec 18
@dgobucks226 - Awww! Thank you!
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
24 Dec 18
@DeborahDiane 
You are one of their Christmas Angels...
You are one of their Christmas Angels...1 person likes this
@yoalldudes (35030)
• Philippines
15 Dec 18
This is a really kind, sweet gesture. Kudos to you. I bet it will be successful.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
15 Dec 18
@yoalldudes - I can see that the shelters make a huge difference for the people in our area. We enjoy helping when we can.
1 person likes this
@Mavic123456 (21891)
• Thailand
15 Dec 18
awww such a good way to have Christmas. they are lucky to have you
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
15 Dec 18
@Mavic123456 - Thank you! I feel lucky to live in a community of people who want to help the less fortunate. We love helping them.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
15 Dec 18
@sallypup - It is so rewarding. We both feel wonderful after spending a couple of hours at the shelter, and so grateful that we are able to leave and go home to our own comfortable bed.
