This event has been on-going for ten years at St. John Vianney’s Catholic Church in Hacienda Heights. However, due to a tragic fire last year, the event has been moved to help the homeless living in the shelter of St. Matthews Church.
Over the school year, the club has collected food and basic necessities purchased through the money raised by fundraisers or donated by members and local grocery stores. One hour of community service is offered to club members per item that is donated to this event. Items include: cookies, socks, toothbrushes/toothpaste, shavers/shaving cream, hand towels, tissue packs, juice boxes, and loaves of bread.
The club is expected to serve lunch and dinner to approximately 250 people. From noon to 2 PM, student volunteers will be packing sacked lunches at Glen A. Wilson High School. Each bag will consist of sandwiches, chips, and a small juice box. Encouragement letters and pictures written and drawn by the volunteers will also be included.
At 5:30, second shift volunteers will report for set up and cooking at the church. At 6:30, the event will officially begin. Volunteers will stand in line, one-by-one with trays in hand, to walk directly up to the tables to serve each guest. This is to achieve a personalized atmosphere. They will serve chili hot dogs and Cole slaw. For dessert, ice cream and cookies will be available.
Serving the community has a special meaning to Wilson’s Red Cross. It means taking extreme measures such as fainting after donating their own blood to save patients’ lives or simple, yet loving gestures, like writing encouragement letters to the broken. Cherie Leung, 17, co-president of the club said, “We love to promote goodwill and service to not only the people in need of blood around the world, but also the community around us. Hand-serving at a local homeless shelter really opens our club members’ eyes to the community around us, and it is especially rewarding to know that we have made a difference and an impact in the lives of the less fortunate. We believe in giving back to the community, and an event as big as a Homeless Shelter Night really gives all of our members a chance to work together and to make a difference in the club.”
Kathie Tang, 17, co-president, added, “I hope that everyone has a good time and feels a sense of accomplishment so that they’ll want to serve the community more and through that, a chance to just serve others in their daily lives.”
With that, Wilson Red Cross awaits in anticipation and excitement to serve their community with the right heart in this upcoming event.
