Date Night
When you think you are being random and taking a break by stopping in at an open house to stretch your legs and then end up meeting Sonia…
After hearing about the Hard West Project Sonia was so lovely to tell me her story about working with the Down But Not Out Ministry here in LA.
Sonia told me that she had never volunteered with a mission before. And that at first It was a bit intimidating honestly. But when her good friend Jackie invited her she decided to make the leap and just go. That was five months ago and now she goes every week. “I can’t wait for Thursdays” she told me. It’s the best part of my week.
Her friend Jackie is former LAPD with a special unit who worked skid row for 25 years. Now Jackie continues those relationships and goes weekly with food and supplies to visit the people she has known for so long. She brings her daughters and granddaughters along as well.
What we found unique about this particular outreach is that the volunteers gather items from their friends and neighbors to bring each week as opposed to a storehouse model where an organization gathers and volunteers distribute. It becomes very personal as they see the need and are excited to find the right item during the week and bring it the next visit.
The folks look forward to a delicious dinner each week. Steve makes an extremely popular chicken soup and Byron who owns B-Man’s Teriyaki and Burgers makes amazing chicken and rice for everyone.
Sandwiches and cookies are made and any food that has been donated that week such as bread from Panera is all loaded up. And all are donated through each person’s friend group.
Everyone loads up their items such as blankets, clothing items, toiletries and jackets into rolling carts to walk the streets to feed, hand out and bless people, many by name.
Sonia has added some glitter and bling to her cart because she told me she just wants it to be fun. Her enthusiasm is contagious. She now brings her boyfriend Marcellino each week and it has become their Thursday night Date Night. They pull their carts, hand out necessities and give a lot of love.
We were privileged to join them last week on skid row and meet their friends who they minister to. It was beautiful to watch them search for the right shoe size for someone and find the perfect color t-shirt that matches their eyes, to call them by name, give them a hug and some much needed encouragement.
Thank you Arodi, who founded Down But Not Out. And to all the volunteers who were so kind to us and who shared their stories. Thanks for all you do and your love for those who just need a hand.
Thank you, Sonia for inviting us into your world.
We didn’t buy the cute house that we toured but did make a new friend. And then we made many more.
Not so random after all.
