It was a blessing to spend a little time this morning with a group of colleagues who are way smarter than the federal government — the 40-odd volunteers at today’s St. Paul’s Commons, Echo Park and Seeds of Hope community Thanksgiving meal who have spent the last few days shopping, slicing, dicing, baking, and now serving it up piping hot for our neighbors.
Jesus Christ said those with less of the world’s goods would always be with us. He didn’t say he wanted it that way. He just knew our stingy hearts. In the richest nation in the world, about one in seven don’t have enough to eat. With Trump, out of sight, out of luck. News actually came Thanksgiving morning that his agriculture department has stopped counting the hungry people.
Our volunteers have not. Instead, they gave up a helping of their own Thanksgiving celebrations with family and friends. Our survey was unscientific but revealing. After saying a word of prayer over the volunteers, I greeted the first 30 or so in line. Our Echo Park neighborhood is gentrifying. But all those coming for dinner today were people of color. Over half were over 65. Hey, heretical nationalists, working so hard to turn the hearts of our young people: “You shall rise before the aged and defer to the old, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord” (Lev. 19:32).
Organizers anticipate serving about 500 meals. Over 200 had been served by noon. We’re open until 2 p.m. Canon Luis Garibay has been lead organizer of this annual ministry since his years as a lay leader at St. Athanasius Episcopal Church, Echo Park, our co-tenant at St. Paul’s Commons. He was accompanied by his daughter Wendy, a clinical social worker who, as a County of Orange official, works with veterans. Canon Bob Williams, St. Paul’s’ pater familias, presided genially.
