Saturday, December 19, 2009

Homeless for the Holiday





Last night, Sayville was transformed into something magical. Unbeknown to shoppers as they walking from shop to shop looking for holiday gifts. Quietly, like a nighttime snow, half a block away homeless families from Suffolk County Shelters are dining on prime rib and listening to a jazz trio and gospel singers. Not just any jazz trio, a phenomenal group of brothers, without formal musical training, the youngest, an eight year old drummer; they also are homeless.
Every Child's Dream, the not-for-profit who organizes the night for five hundred guests also arranges to have a Santa and gifts for all the children, and it’s all donated.
Bill Lindsay, the Presiding officer of the Suffolk County Legislature and Wayne Horsley a legislator from Lindenhurst collect gently used coats, hats and gloves. The families are free to browse through the racks of garments for whatever they need.
Buses were donated from a local company for those who needed to get back and forth.
I left as the volunteers were changing the table setting for the second seating.  As I stopped at the light two blocks from the festivities a bus from Little Flower Children’s and Family Services pulled up beside me. The glow from the children on that bus out did the holiday lights that adorned the well-decorated village shops.
Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus. He comes in all shapes and sizes, all colors and nationalities.  He was big and small, young and old and yes, I think he was even homeless. Everyone left there knowing what Christmas is really all about. 

5 comments:

Cynthia L. H. said...

Beautiful!!! I love it that the workers went over the top with the decorating, food, music, and EVERYthing!!! That is as it should be.
;^)

georgia b. said...

howdy neighbor. i've not moved. i've just gone on vacation. but i thought i'd stop by to say hello.

this is awesome! i'd love to be a part of something like this. thanks for sharing it. brings a hopeful spirit to this day.

Mrs. E said...

How awesome is that?! What a wonderful thing! : )

SiLa said...

wonderful!

S. Etole said...

Homeless ... in a stable. Where God shows up.