LOS ANGELES MISSION CELEBRATES EASTER ON THE STREETS OF HOPE CENTRAL

Celebrities Joined Volunteers to Serve 3000 Easter Meals to the Homeless.

April 19, 2003 ---

When you live on the streets of the city, life can be hard on your feet. But Saturday, the Los Angeles Mission pampered the feet of homeless men, women and children during its annual Easter Celebration.

“Jesus washed the feet of his disciples the night before he was crucified,” said Marshall McNott, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Mission. “In many Christian churches, foot washing is the symbol of servanthood, and we wash the feet of our friends in Hope Central as a way of showing our love and respect for them.”

There was a very practical purpose as well. L.A. Mission Community Clinic professionals and volunteers provided foot exams and minor surgical procedures to ease the discomfort many on the street suffer. Free socks and foot care products were distributed.

The Los Angeles Mission provided nearly 3,000 hot meals to homeless men, women and children on this crisp spring afternoon. And close to 800 homeless children walked away with Easter bags full of candy and a small stuffed animal.

The Los Angeles Mission had the help of 400 volunteers today from the local Los Angeles area, including Hattie Winston, co-star on the CBS hit, Becker. She says, “Easter is about new beginnings and rising above insurmountable odds. My family is tremendously blessed – I have no choice but to give back. There really is no difference between the souls of two people and that is why I do this.” More than a dozen other celebrities joined her.

“We believe that the opportunity to change someone’s life can start with something as simple as a hot meal,” says McNott. “It’s about opening up a doorway of hope to people who are literally at the bottom of their lives – loving them enough to get on our hands and knees and care for their feet. We want to reach everyone we can and show them that during this season of new beginnings, they too can start over and learn how to live a life away from the streets.”

The Easter Holiday meal was honey glazed ham, three-cheese macaroni, mixed vegetables, rolls and butter and key lime pie for dessert. More than 2,000 pounds of ham was served, and 1,100 pounds of macaroni. Key Lime West of Garden Grove, CA donated nine pallets of pie.

The Los Angeles Mission refers to the Skid Row area as “Hope Central” – helping people find their way off the streets and into productive lives through its Urban Training Institute (UTI).

“UTI is based on the idea that every man that comes into the Los Angeles Mission, or woman into the Anne Douglas Center, is in need of respect and education. The goal of UTI is to develop a passion for freedom and life-long learning in formerly homeless men and women. The Institute provides opportunities for relational rehabilitation and restoration, academic studies and vocational training. With these tools, we see lives turned around and rebuilt,” McNott said.

For over 50 years, the Los Angeles Mission has served the people of Hope Central (known as Skid Row), providing emergency services such as shelter, food, clothing, as well as professional medical and dental services. In addition, the Los Angeles Mission also offers long-term residential rehabilitation programs including education, job training/placement, transitional housing and counseling.