For the Least of our Brothers 2008

For the 4th year in a row (3 for me) some friends and I distributed lunches and warm clothes to the homeless in Center City Phila. This year it was Ron Krier, Mike Volko, and myself. We did get quite a few donations which helped with our limited funds and special thanks go out to Pat, Jane, Arlene, Jim @ BCCC, ONeill Family, Boomer, Justin, Deb & Rich, Ken & Jill, and Wash Tyme. I hope I did not forget anyone.

We met up around 915 am and loaded up Rons van with jackets, hats, gloves, socks, underwear, sweatshirts, blankets, backpacks, pants, shoes, & sleeping bags and stopped by Silvio's Deli to pickup 40 brown bag lunches with a sub, chips, soda, and cookie in each. They bake their own rolls on premises and the subs are really good, and they give us a break on the price for charity.

Since we've been doing this a few years we have a good idea where to find these folks. At the end of the day we'll drop off the remaining items at a shelter but we find its more rewarding actually searching out people who need things the most and the 1 on 1 interaction is best. For the most part they are very respectful and only take what they really need knowing we only have so much to give. Sometimes people will start to crowd the van and we're not really sure if they are homeless but we try to use our best judgement. Just the interaction and asking their name helps their self-esteem.

One interesting thing that one of us noticed was watching the reaction of other people watching us giving the stuff out. I'm sure many just walk by these people all day long and don't stop to think about the situation someone who does not have a home is in. Hopefully we planted a seed for someone to stop thinking of themselves first and serve others in whatever small way they can.

So I'm sitting here in my warm house looking out the window at it snowing or is it freezing rain right now and can't help thinking about our brothers & sisters out there just trying to survive. If we all just do a little it adds up to a lot.

Matthew 25
34"Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
35'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;
36naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?
38'And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?
39'When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'
40"The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'