Friday, November 25, 2011

The giving in Thanksgiving: Spirits and bellies filled at church dining rooms


From California-

In the poorest of circumstances, an abundance of generosity, compassion and community is found.

In the dining room of All Saints Episcopal Church in Palo Alto on Thanksgiving Day, a band played soft acoustic music and people of all ages, mostly men, sat in groups at candle-lit tables, sharing conversation and a homemade turkey dinner.

The majority are homeless.

"I come here every year," said one man with short dreads and a graying beard. He offered only his first name, Eddie. "I don't have family and all that stuff. I like the gathering."
The 53-year-old former chef, who lost his last job seven years ago and hasn't found full-time work since, relished a piece of apple pie. At night, he'll lay his head down, "under the stars," he said, sleeping on a local front porch with the homeowners' permission.

About 450 dinners will be served between Thursday and today, according to Eileen Richardson, one of the organizers of the InnVision Estelle Chaflin Thanksgiving Day Community Dinner. The holiday tradition is named after the former owner of Palo Alto's Captain Cosmos sandwich shop, who started serving a sit-down dinner for homeless people about 28 years ago.

More here-

http://www.mercurynews.com/san-mateo-county-times/ci_19407540?source=rss

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