December Newsletter

THANKSGIVING
Over 250 people came to the Café of Life feast in the park. This year tables were set under the banyan tree and our many, many volunteers carried the food on trays and served our clients. Food was abundant – turkey, dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes, fruit salad and plenty of pie for dessert. Volunteers on this traditionally family day come to experience the joy of helping others. Some young parents bring their children to teach them an early lesson in giving. A local pastor, at a community Thanksgiving Eve service, challenged us to put a face on Thanksgiving. One of the volunteers expressed the “face” he saw in the people receiving a nourishing meal under the banyan tree was the face he would put on his Thanksgiving.

CHRISTMAS
The Christmas season holds special joy for many of us and the same is true for our clients and their families. We serve them a beautiful Christmas dinner and this year there will be a table with books for each child. In addition, gift bags are assembled for our homeless clients and a voucher is given to each family to take to Benson’s store to get food to take home and prepare meals for their families during the holiday season. Benson’s is a small store near the park where our clients gather each day for their noon meal and they have cooperated with us before by supplying the food we purchase. The owners of the store keep a list of items for each family and the family can receive all the items at one time, or take individual items as they are needed. It is an effort we all appreciate that Benson’s is willing to accommodate our clients in this manner.

JUAN
Juan Padillo came to the United States in 2000. He immediately got a job working in the landscaping business. After working a few months he broke his ankle while on the job. The ankle required surgery and pins and he was in a cast for many months making him unable to work. The ankle healed very slowly.

During this recuperation time, which took over a year, Juan came to the Café of Life daily for a hot healthy noon meal. Even though on crutches and in obvious pain, Juan always greeted everyone with a huge smile and never left without helping the volunteers clean up in any way he could.

Eventually the cast came off, he threw away the crutches and Juan no longer came to the Café. He had gotten a new job and is now working and providing for himself and two sons.

Juan said “The Café fed me and gave me some assistance when I could not do it for myself. I am very grateful for the Café of Life”. Juan stops by occasionally on his days off just to say “Hello”.

DONATIONS
Our entire operation at the Café of Life is funded by donations and grants. We do no fund raisers and are blessed by the generosity of our friends. We receive support from the United Way and recently received a grant from the Brooks Foundation. The First Baptist Church sent us money to bless our ministry and the First Presbyterian Church sent the offering from the community Thanksgiving service. In addition, a large donation was given to us by Encore of Bonita Springs, a group of ladies who meet regularly and have generous hearts! Of course, there are many, many others who give throughout the year. Without this support we could not begin to fulfill our mission. Hearty thanks to one and all!

Carol Hedman, member
Board of Directors

Our motto is “caring…sharing…serving”.
We are so thankful so many people have taken this motto to heart!