Dast2Dast

Well my sweet friends, let me tell you of my journey to a wondrous, and in my eyes truly beautiful, place. A place where people work for free. That's right. They call ahead of time, and schedule work for themselves. They don't get paid for it, there is no recognition, and some times it can be a dangerous, thankless, dirty job, but they do it, each for his or her own reason, but they do it.

They do everything, from preparing 3 square meals for over 300 guests, to washing linen for 150 beds every day for the short term accommodations of their guests (five days). Amenities include, hot showers, clean clothes to keep as the ones they have are washed, and again returned to them. Yes, guests enter with one set of clothes, and leave with two.

For those who choose, there is a one year intensive program (an additional 150 beds - dorm style living), a 50 seat fully computerized class-room, counseling services, a game room donated by Bonno (U2) and ????? with giant screen TV for Monday night kickoff!!! 3 times a year, graduates of the program have a fully catered graduation, including waiters for each table, who again receives nothing for this hard and thankless work. And don't forget, the cooks, and cleanup crew, none of them make a dime doing this....Huh? you say...

They have regular events such as:

• March for Human Dignity Easter (workers are encouraged to schedule this in advance as jobs get filled quickly!)
• End of Summer Block Party in September (Disney use to sponsor but not this year, in fact they are looking for sponsors)
• Thanksgiving, as well as, Christmas, where guests get to enjoy a free meal with their families at no cost to them what so ever, zero, nill, nada. All they have to do is enjoy a good, hot meal, with friends, family, and if no one else, maybe this year me ;). At this event, so many workers sign up, that you almost have to be a seasoned veteran to get any work at all!!! I mean who ever head of saying no to a free worker?!?!?!

By the way, this place is clean. Spotless. The kitchen is one of the top rated in LA by the critiques in the know, and they have been providing this service for well over half a century. Oh!! and... the women have separate facility, where they can relax from the gawking eyes of men, this is in addition to the above 300 beds.

Where is this amazingly wonderful place you may ask.......

The Los Angeles Mission, on skid row, in downtown City of Angeles.

On the serious side, it's not just about giving them a hot meal, it's about really trying to get them into the program, which still has room, and funny enough never reaches capacity. The short term always fills up by the end of the month as the welfare checks run out. It's getting them to commit to long term that is hard. There are both stories of failures and successes, but the great thing is some have graduated and turned around to become staff, which you can tell right away, by the bright eyes and warm smiles from ear to ear.

They have partnered with the police department (adjacent to the 16000+sq.ft. facility), and several other facilities for over run, and special needs. All one has to due is show up any 3rd Saturday of the month from 9 to 11 in the morning for orientation, then when ever you have the time, you call ahead at wich time they schedule you to come in and work (assigned tasks). They have categories of work, some obviously more in demand then others, and you are informally rated on punctuality, reliability, and frequency. You can't just show up once a year, and expect to be running the kitchen.

The question is not that people need help, we know that, the question is what to do. Today, my answer is this; put down your earthly possessions and follow me to the (your) LA Mission. None of us know anything about the plight of the desperate man, and until we wash his feet, give him rest, and carry his burden (even if for a short while), we will never know how to help.

I tell you that you are all more alive now than you have been your entire lives, helping in this way, and I am continually encouraged, by your tireless efforts, to do the same here in LA.

Love, peace, and prayers