Volunteers of the Week

This week we honor the 200 volunteers that gave up their Christmas Day to spend time in a pouring rain distributing food and sleeping bags to 385 homeless and poor that stood in line for over 2 hours. We thank you for your dedication to your community. Happy New Year to all and we look forward to seeing you in 2004!

To me, FOF is a place to share love with those who are less fortunate. I truly believe that the smallest act of honest caring can go a long way.

The one thing I like most about FOF is that its main focus is helping those who are less fortunate thru respect, care, and love. The volunteers are wonderful.

Passing out candy before the main meal is great. I get to meet, talk, and smile with those who are there. They are wonderful people who give back to me more than they realize.

-Tri

Food On Foot has been a wonderful addition to my life.
I really enjoy the way it allows me to connect with
those less fortunate, and help them out in a number of
very real ways -- providing them with food, clothes,
and the chance to work. And since it's only an hour a
week, it's a great opportunity for anyone who has a
busy schedule, but wants to do more than just write a
check. (Not that writing a check is such a bad thing
-- that's pretty important, too.) I also really like
the fact that, because Food On Foot is an entirely
volunteer organization, every penny of every donation
goes directly towards a meal for someone who needs it.

My favorite moment at any feeding always comes towards
the end, when the "worker of the week" awards are
handed out, and one by one the homeless workers each
receive a round of applause for their efforts. The
food and the donations are great, but I think that
little bit of applause makes a big difference, too.

Happy holidays,
Carter

Food on Foot is a wonderful organization that allows me and my family to give back to those less fortunate.

What I like most is that your efforts and donations have a direct impact on those people you are trying to help. It is also very rewarding to know that efforts are being made not only to feed, but to get people back on their feet through the work program.

I am always so impressed by how appreciative and thankful the people we are trying to help are. The mutual care, concern and appreciation is what always brings me back.

-Corey

On Sunday November 23rd a group of energetic volunteers led by $56 club member Jenenne Macklin sponsored the feeding with a $1000 donation.

Food on Foot has been a good reminder for me to be grateful for all the blessings in my life: my health, my parents, my education, my home. I have realized through my monthly contact with the clients that Food on Foot serves, that it only takes one turn of bad luck to have it all taken away. When I meet the clients, I know they are all someone's child or sibling or parent or friend. Volunteering is that one chance for me to give time to the community, to step back from a hectic schedule, and feel good about giving people a hot meal and a smile.

What I like most about Food on Foot is the human contact. I am a people-person, and I try to get to the feedings early so I can chat with the people in line, either with the lollipops or the cards. I've overheard the most amazing conversations, and it always reminds me that we are all living in the same world.

An experience I remember is when a man overheard me talking to a girl in line, as she was checking her horoscope in the LA Times. We discovered we were both Capricorns. The man said to me as he walked by me in line, "I hope I'm not still here in January, but if I am, I'm going to wish you a Happy Birthday". I had no idea he was paying attention to our conversation.

-Trish

What I like most about FOF is being part of an eclectic and enthusiastic group of volunteers.

FOF makes me think about the many things we take for granted in life; it allows me to share them with those in need. When I see those familiar faces, who notice if you’ve missed a day, I feel I am the fortunate one who's receiving the gift.

Last Sunday after the feeding, FOF gave each participant a gift certificate for working in the Work for Food program. All the volunteers gave a round of applause after each name was called. It was so nice to see how proud they felt for being recognized for their work!!! Then at the end, one of the participants told the FOF coordinator to thank us, the volunteers. Everybody gave us a round of applause. That made my day, my week, my month...

-Nora

Food on Foot gives me the opportunity to give back to my community. These days, I find myself rushing from one engagement to the next, never slowing down to engage myself in what’s really important to me. Food on Foot gives me this chance and for three hours a week, help those less fortunate than myself.


People need a little help from time to time between their transitions whether it be from one job to the next or from one home to another, and Food on Foot gives them that much-needed assistance. I’m proud to be involved in such a selfless organization and am grateful for the opportunity to participate in this program.

-Yvonne

Food on Foot gives me an opportunity to GIVE BACK and see my efforts at work. My past experience with non-profit groups always left me feeling lost - i.e. my donations went into a big checking account somewhere and I received a form letter with a stamped signature. With FOF I can see every week the homeless and hungry first hand - their pain, joy, frustrations and lack of physical comforts.
These experiences stay with me all week and influence me in many positive ways.


What I like best about FOF is that they only GIVE - never TAKE.


One of my favorite experiences with FOF happened last year as I was searching for a second hand bicycle. I stopped in a second hand bike store in Santa Monica. The proprietor was surly, bored and not too interested in selling me a bike.
I happened to mention that I was fulfilling a wish for a homeless man and he needed a good sturdy bike to get around town to look for a job. INSTANTLY this man was charming, helpful, wanted to know more about FOF and gave me a discount and his business card to pass along to the man receiving the bike saying all repairs were on HIM – FREE!! So Jay's and Food on Foot's spirit is alive in many places.

-Jeannine

For me, Food on Foot seems like a great opportunity to forget about my problems and see things in a bigger picture. I like that food on foot started out of some guy’s van. My first time feeding was quick, I was surprised that I was in and out in a hour and apparently I was very lucky because I got to serve the chicken. Man, I don't know how i'm gonna feel when I get knocked down to the granola bars.

Food on foot means a lot to me , since a friend of mine founded it. Its was nice working for an organization whose sole mission is to help people who are at the bottom of their luck, providing a nice meal for people who might not have one otherwise. It was always a good experience seeing people who were in desperate need being helped. It was also nice seeing volunteers coming out to help

Food on Food is a heartfelt organization that is sincerely helping people to get back on their feet so they can become self-sufficient. Not only does it provide food, but it also gives people hope, and treats them with dignity.



I enjoy the collaborative effort among the volunteers each week and the comradeship that comes with this. I also appreciate that Food on Foot is there every week for people - consistently, rain or shine.




An experience I had was simply giving out apples to old and young people alike. It was touching to me how appreciative all the people were. They were grateful, courteous and well-mannered. I was grateful to be in their presence and for the overall experience of being in service in such a direct and engaging way.

Thank you.
Michael

Food on Foot makes me feel like I can make a difference in the lives of others.
I like meeting the people who come through the line and their individuality and sense of humor is always inspiring to me. My favorite grandmother who comes through the line is Alice (gypsy with blue pony-tail holders, etc). She always has something nice to say to me, and seems to be genuinely enjoying herself even though I know her life is not easy. Her attitude, just like most of those who come through the line, helps make me realize how much I have to be thankful for.

Food on Foot provides me with a great opportunity to get involved in
something that touches and helps the lives of others. This volunteering experience
has allowed me the opportunity to acknowledge and share with others the many
blessings that I have in my life.


I like attending the Venice location because I grew up in Venice and it keeps
me connected to the community that I was so fortunate to grow up in. Since I
was little, I felt a calling to help the homeless, but I wanted to do more
than give my spare change. Food on Foot has given me the way to be directly
involved. The thing that I like most is that through regular volunteering, I am
getting to see first hand that the work started by Jay is so important and
necessary. There are many "regulars" who come and they are always so grateful.
I just feel so lucky to have found a place that has given me the outlet to
work with those people that I see out on the streets on a regular basis.


I have had so many experiences since I began volunteering, but just this
week I was passing out the forms and I came across a couple who spoke Spanish.
They were trying to figure out what the form said and when I read it to them
in Spanish, their eyes just lit up. We had a brief conversation, but later as
I handed them water, they both clasped my hand, looked into my eyes, and asked
God to bless me. That was a confirmation for me that I was exactly where I
was called to be.

-Rosie

Food on Foot is my opportunity to give back to those that might not be as fortunate or lucky as I have been. So many volunteer organizations only ask you to help financially, but FOF gives me the opportunity to personally interact with the people who benefit from our assistance.


I know it sounds cliche, but truthfully my favorite part of Food on Foot is seeing people smile when often times there is little to smile about.


One of my favorite experiences on FOF was a few weeks back when we celebrated a homeless man's 100th birthday with cake. All of the volunteers, and everyone waiting in line for a meal joined in for a boisterous rendition of happy birthday. It was a great time and everyone seemed to have fun.

-Chris

Food on Foot is an incredible inspiration to me. I am
continually blown away by the way their dedication and
perseverance touch so many people's lives. When you
see such a grassroots organization achieving such
tangible good, week after week, in the face of every
difficulty, you can't help but want to do your bit to
support it.

I remember noticing one week that a gentleman was
wearing a lime-green pantsuit that had been donated
the previous week, and how pleased he seemed with it.
That made me happy.

-Maria

Jimmy and Tammy raised over $500 from their fellow workers when Jimmy shaved his head for Food on Foot! Thanks Jimmy for the hard work!

Food on Foot has been a great way for me to give back to the community that I live in. So often people get caught up in their hectic lives and forget about others. Through Food on Foot I am able to slow my own life down and give something back. I enjoy chatting with the people who come through the line, and especially enjoy Make a Wish day. Last year after Make a Wish day the person that I was paired up with stopped me on the street and thanked me for the tent that I gave to him. That is something that I will never forget.

-Troy

I like volunteering for Food on Foot because I get to help people with one on
one contact. People are so grateful when you're there helping out that it's
nice to know I'm making a difference. I think Food on Foot is a great
organization because of its emphasis on helping people get back into the work
mode. Everyone needs help getting back onto their feet at some point in their
lives, and there aren't many organizations that combine feeding with working.
I think one of my most memorable experiences at Food on Foot was when I was
handing someone a granola bar and he reached into his pocket to answer his
ringing cell phone. Only in L.A...

-Elizabeth

Food On Foot is a way to help people who are less fortunate than I am and to show them that someone cares about them. So often they are ignored or treated like they are not human beings. Food on Foot is an opportunity to treat them like people. On Palm Sunday last year I was having people fill out forms and spoke to a man for a minute. He walked away, and came back a with a cross and rose made out of a palm and gave it to me because he said I was the first person to smile at him all day.

-Jessica

I think a basic human right is to be able to eat. I
appreciate the opportunity Food on Foot gives me to
help the less fortunate participate in this right.

I like that FOF is a completely selfless organization.
There are no strings attached; just show up and get
fed.

I will always remember this time that someone brought
their son to the feeding (he was between five and
eight). When he found out that he was to help his mom
pass out bananas, he yelled "Bananas?!" He continued
to say "Bananas?!" at least once a minute for the
entire feeding. I couldn't stop laughing all day.

Scott

FOF means being able to really help those who need it, not just around the holidays but all year round. It makes you put your life in real perspective, we are blessed and it nice to be able to share with those who are not as fortunate as we.

The thing I like most about FOF is seeing it bring out the best in people!  The comradely is wonderful!

I leave every feeding with a warm feeling, and those times that my 8 year old daughter Marja joins me and I hear her say that she is glad she came to help, and to hear the people say "thank you" to her and she says "your welcome" - I know this is the place for us!

Marie

Our recent 8th anniversary party for volunteers and friends of Food on Foot that was hosted by Pam Goldwasser and organized by Jennifer Kanter and Erica Zima.

Food on Foot means quite a few things to me... but on a personal level it means a place where I can help & sometimes bring a smile to those less fortunate. The first thing I notice in a city is the amount of homeless people in it & in L.A where there are so many,
I am glad I can do a little to help.

The thing I like most about FOF is that this really efficient organization sees the 'bigger picture'. The 'Work for Food' program brings former homeless people back into the
workforce again and gives them renewed hope! & I think it's cool that homeless people
see FOF , not only as a place to get food but also as a 'meeting-place'!!

I was delighted one Sunday when a few homeless people that I had met during the week showed up at FOF.

-Lisa