You may have heard that “Christmas is not about getting but really about giving.”
For some reason, this simple quote caught our attention this year. So we decided to dig deeper into what the cliché really means by spending some time with people in need.
We recently learned about an outreach program called Assist Foundation. Every week, this organization provides food for the homeless in San Bernardino. While similar shelters or soup kitchens like Union Rescue Mission in Los Angeles have age restrictions, Assist Foundation doesn’t. So on December 29, right after Christmas and just before the New Year’s, We chose to join them to serve food to the homeless.
We arrived around 6am. It was still dark outside, and the parking lot in front of the Catholic Charities of San Bernardino building was nearly empty. This would soon change once the group’s leadership opened the metal security gates.
We used the initial time by setting up tables and chairs on the asphalt. After that, we helped by loading brown paper bags with bananas, whole wheat bread, and blueberry muffins to provide extra food for the upcoming week.
Soon after, adults began to bring out rotisserie chicken, smoked ham, mashed potatoes, and stringed beans for brunch. There was no shortage of food, and the pleasant aroma of a holiday meal filled the air.
Our assembly line prepared a cardboard to-go box allowing the homeless to eat in the moment or take the food with them. The line appeared endless, wrapping all the way around the block.
We distributed those boxes until the line began to die down, and the initial supply of food began to dwindle. Our food service finished at around 8:30am. Once the crowd left, we packed up the tables and chairs. Group leadership said a quick prayer, and we went home.
Our experience was meaningful and thought-provoking, as it changed our views on the sad reality of people who are less fortunate than we are.
We saw people in ragged attire, pushing shopping carts from Walmart while holding plastic bags filled with dirty clothes or plastic bottles to recycle to make a quick buck. It appeared that many of those we’d served had little idea of what was next in their lives after having a warm meal.
This experience caused us to more deeply value what we too often take for granted. We sometimes fail to value the love of parents, food on our tables, and roofs over our heads. We easily dismiss the importance of a good education, while being quick to criticize homework and studying. However, while our memories are sometimes a little too short, we’re certain to remember this Catholic Charities event.
We hope to return to San Bernardino in the near future. We strongly recommend our Howl readers click this link and consider a trip of their own. You’ll create your own story, impact a life or two in the moment, and come back to Day Creek a little bit different than you left. We came to realize that our time that morning is what Christmas and New Year’s are truly about.
