It is easy to forget but not hard to realize the importance of charity in one’s life. Within our lifetime, we are occupied with our jobs, social obligations and sometimes an inherit laziness for doing something beyond the expected.

Writing a check, although not to be dismissed; I wanted to participate in the act of giving this holiday season. I had the initial idea of supplying a meal to the homeless of Los Angeles on Skid Row. Unsure of the rules and regulations, I called several missions and shelters along with putting in calls to the Los Angeles Police Department. Without much response I was advised by the lead officer on Skid Row to leave the meals to the missions but left the ultimate decision up to me, as we wouldn’t be breaking a law. But after reviewing the reasons why, I decided it was best to have the lunch via a mission.

With the help of a girlfriend who lives downtown, I was put into contact with the wonderful people at SHARE. This facility offers self-help and support groups to aid in personal growth and change. SHARE! empowers people to change their own lives and provides them a loving, safe, non-judgmental place where they can find community, information and support. (info and link below) I quickly coordinated with Kevin of SHARE, that we would supply a free lunch to any and all on December 19th.  Gregory Garner and Madd Platter Catering (info and link below) would supply the food at cost to me and along with my friends would help serve the food. As an added idea, my fabric guru, Shelly Erion found over 90 yards of fleece material that we would both cut into scarves to donate with our gift of food.

On December 19th, 2009 with a couple of setbacks we started our lunch at 12:30 p.m. We fed about 120-150 people and gave plenty of plates to go with a lot of food left over for SHARE to give to others. Madd Platter shined with their selections of a Mexican feast with blackened chicken, tortillas, beans, rice, guacomole, pico de gallo, garden salad and all the fixings even despite a mishap earlier in the day involving their catering truck. Gregory Garner, Tim Williams, Jayson Killman, Tom Capler, HanNah Kim, Erika Slouber, and Shelly Erion, handed out food while Andrei Osyka walked the streets of LA spreading the word of a free lunch. While Brooke Mora, Brette Borow and Amy Gomez brought the yummy cookies from Diddy Rese. All in all it was a great turnout and I would love to repeat it next year.

Beyond self promoting how wonderful my friends and I are, the purpose of this entry is to stress the importance of following through with that nagging feeling of needing to do something for others. All this was planned within a week: the food was worked out with Madd Platter, location set, time set, scarves made, cookies ordered, flyers were distributed downtown by SHARE. Although a tiring week and without the help of my friends it wasn’t possible but the fact is, it happened. Push yourself; do something – don’t just think about it. Especially if you are a cold, calculating bitch like me – it may make up for 1/3rd of the cruelty you give to others throughout the year… (well-deserved cruelty)