Volunteers of the Week

Food on Foot offers a great way to give something back to the community. It has been a real privilege to be able to participate in a program that is so effective at changing the lives of homeless people. I really like how FOF operates as a successful business, and at the same time, addresses the needs of the homeless with love and respect. Volunteering has been a very rewarding experience, helping me to appreciate the REAL connection between all people.

The Work for Food program is amazing. It is not like other charities that only offer handouts. By teaching accountability, consistency and hard work, Food on Foot really helps the homeless regain the confidence that they need to return to society and be totally self-sufficient.

One of the most rewarding experiences at FOF has been listening to the testimonials given by people who have gone through the program, returned to work, and moved into their new apartments. WOW! The transformation that has taken place in these peoples lives is a real inspiration.

-Mic

A BIG thank you to Don & Jennifer Goldstein & friends for their sponsorship of the Sunday December 21st serving.

A BIG thank you to the students, teachers and parents from Turning Point School's 8th grade class for their sponsorhip of the serving on Sunday December 14th.

A BIG thank you to everyone at Nickelodeon for their sponsorship of the Sunday December 7th Hollywood serving.

A BIG thank you to the members of the Living in the Light ministry for their sponsorship of the November 30th serving

A BIG thank you to the parents and students from Westside Neighborhood School for their sponsorship of the Sunday November 23rd serving.

A big Thank You to Jim Henderson and everyone at Amoeba Records for their sponsorhip of the November 16th serving.

I love food on foot because it is much more than just handing out food. It gives each person a chance to change their circumstances by working their way into a job so they can actually afford an apartment.

I was amazed at each story told and how they got there. It was so humbling because you realize especially in this economy that it could happen to anyone.

I walked with this woman in the food line holding her new sleeping blanket food on foot provided. When I asked her what her name was she cut me off and said "I don't want to talk." We stood in silence for a while till she said " you know what pisses me off..." I said "that pisses me off too - don't get me started!" Well, she went off about things she had a every right to be pissed off about but by the end of the walk I actually had her laughing and it felt so good to watch her opened up. I cried when she finally walked off with her food and sleeping bag but it was a good cry. Everyone needs to be heard and acknowledged. I know I do.

-Cheri

Food on Foot is a terrific way for me and my family to give back to those who really need it. Moreover, I believe it is really important for my children (16 and 9 years old) to see another side of life they are not typically directly exposed to and realize they can make a difference in other peoples lives.

What I like most about Food on Foot is the direct, and positive, impact it has on getting homeless people back on their feet. The long term program and support (rather than just temporary food or shelter), and the direct application of the donations to those who need it in a very efficient way is impressive.

-Jeri

A BIG thank you to Steve Plum and his family, friends and business associates for sponsoring the Sunday October 19th serving.

A big Thank You to Kevin Sullivan and friends for sponsoring the Sunday October 12th Hollywood serving.

FOF will give me the opportunity to share in the future success of eliminating the "less" from homeless for those that complete the program.

There are many things that I like about Food on Foot: all clients are treaty with respect and dignity. All clients are given the opportunity to "change" their lives. I like the discipline of the program. The smiles on the clients when they receive awards they have earned (allowing the volunteers to participate in the celebration is rewarding to us).

The appreciation shown by the clients for the food and clothing being distributed is very heart-warming and make me realized even more how blessed I am.

-Fran

Food On Foot is an opportunity for me to connect with the homeless in my community. There are so many times when I see homeless people and I wonder about their story, but I don't take the time to get to know them or ask the questions in order to get to know them. FOF gives me an opportunity to meet with them face to face, offer a smile and hopefully some encouragement, and give them a nice meal. As an $84 member I know that I'm helping someone live a better life a little at a time with a program that really works as in not just a charity.

I love the fact that FOF is a work program that helps to build self esteem in order to help homeless people get off the street. Working rather than just receiving charity is what helps create that self esteem and enables them to go even further with the help and support that they are given in this program. I am so grateful that I get to be a part of this process and give back a little.

One of my favorite parts was the graduation ceremony. Everyone clapped and rooted for the people who won, and the pride was evident in those who had really gone the extra mile. It was awesome. What was hard though was to see that there wasn't enough food for the people who had gotten there too late to get a ticket. Especially the kids. That broke my heart.

-Denise

Food on Foot means being able to witness first hand people who care and who do make a difference. In addition, it is gratifying to actually see first hand what our donations are doing instead of mailing in a check and not seeing who or what the money goes to.

I like to hear and see the success stories. It is an amazing program and we feel wonderful every time we participate in a feeding. When we first volunteered I did not know what to expect. In my mind it was going to be maybe another soup kitchen but how refreshing it was to see what this program was all about. The other aspect of the program I like are the clothing etc. donations. From now on we will be bringing all of our donations to FOF where they are needed and how amazing it is to see that no donations are left after a feeding. The commitment time is short yet the gratification is worth a life time.

On our first feeding, it was truly inspiring to hear Danny tell his story and it was great to have my daughters hear it as well. It is these stories that make the program, along with the awards ceremony, worthwhile and successful. It is so wonderful to see how these individuals are turning their lives around and it is great to be a part of it.

-Andrea

FOF is a way people (of all ages!!!) are able to help those working at rescuing themselves and reclaiming their lives through community service, and support those who selflessly give of their time, energy, compassion and themselves towards that common goal.

The success stories are wonderful!!! It validates the FOF program and really invites the volunteers to appreciate how donating time and money (when possible) can help enrich a life.

-Booh

Food on Foot is a small but powerful organization that little by little produces great results by helping those who have fallen on hard times to get back on their feet .

What I like most about Food on Foot is its modesty, its pragmatism, its impact on individuals. Its focus on confidence-building.

The most moving part for us is the awards ceremony, and the pride of the individuals who step forward to collect their prizes. The prizes may seen modest to us, but they are the building blocks of a comeback.

-Rodrigo

Food On Foot is a chance to interact with LA's homeless population and give them the support they so badly need. It's easy to turn a blind eye to the terrible poverty that affects our own city. Food on Foot lets you come face to face with the problem and actually do something about it.

What I like most about Food On Foot is that it doesn't just focus on providing people with food -- it provides them with the confidence they need to reclaim their lives and make a change for the better.

The best moment of any feeding is the award ceremony at the end, when the homeless participants in the program are given awards for their hard work picking up trash around the Hollywood area. It's amazing how a little thing like being acknowledged for a job well done can make all the difference in a person's outlook; and to see that look of accomplishment and fulfillment on faces that once wore only self-doubt and despair is truly uplifting.

-Carter

A BIG thank you to the folks from BLT & Associates for their sponsorship of the Sunday (8/31) serving in Hollywood.

Food on Foot represents for our family the possibility to participate and contribute in a structured program that is positively impacting the lives of people that are looking for a way to reintegrate into society.

We like that Food on Foot aims to assist people who want to help themselves. It contributes to restore confidence in participants in a dignified manner.

The expression of joy and a deep feeling of pride on the face of a participant that is graduated or that gets a job is absolutely a happy event to share.

-Alberto Romano and Family

Food on Foot is, to me, a second chance. It helps people get back on their feet in a safe and nurturing environment. It’s not a free lunch, so to speak, and that is significant; it really teaches people to be independent again and to take back control of their lives. The first time Deborah spoke, she mentioned how her situation was not the result of one tragic turn, but a series of simple missteps that could happen to anyone, and those words have stayed with me. It’s a great reminder in this divided age of how we need to treat every single person equally, with nothing less than compassion and humanity.

Coming to Food on Foot is such an uplifting experience, and that’s due entirely to the people. It’s wonderful to meet parents who drive an hour or more on Sundays so their children can see how fortunate they are and learn at an early age to give back to the community and help those who have less. Or to talk with volunteers who have been coming on Sundays for several years now and have cheered on many success stories. And then there are the people who come through the line, always friendly, engaging me in conversation, and expressing such gratitude for the fact that we are all there together, supporting each other.

Just last week I got to experience my first graduation, and watching Deborah accept her plaque so proudly and look toward a new future, with a job and a bank account, was unbelievably moving. That family had come in to share the day with her just emphasized what a significant accomplishment this was for her, and reminded me how I shouldn’t take anything for granted. But it was earlier, during the rewards ceremony, when a first-timer won a 4th place prize and couldn't contain his smile as the crowd cheered for him, that I truly felt privileged to be a part of the program.

-Kevin

A BIG thank you to Eugene Costello and friends for their sponsorship of the serving on Sunday August 10th.

Food on Foot is one of the BEST organizations I have been privileged to be a part of. It truly represents what can be done to help others when love, support and responsibility is your true intention. I am always amazed, inspired and humbled by volunteering on Sundays and reading the newsletter. It is an organization I tell others about with true pride.

What I love most is the interaction with the people. The genuine smiles and expressions of gratitude from the people on line accepting our offering. I think it is a moment of pure connection without judgment from either side - just person to person sharing a moment. It is a feeling I think everyone should experience because you will never be the same once you do.

The first feeding I attended was at the end of February and I heard Danny tell his story. He had been working and was on track to graduate and I could feel how empowered and strong he was feeling. I also heard Deborah's story and she was going to a job interview that week and she was a bit nervous but beaming for the opportunity. This week I was fortunate to hear Danny speak and he was a new man. He radiated confidence, strength and power. I also heard Deborah speak and she has now been working and close to graduation and she too seemed to hold her head higher, confident and strong. These are truly amazing transformations and such wonderful examples of determination and will. I look forward to seeing and hearing about all the members working toward a positive change in their lives.

-Nancy

A BIG thank you to 15 year old Danielle Silver for raising $370 from friends and family that will be used in our Work for Food program!

A BIG thank you to the Hauptman family for raising $831 from a parade and bake sale on July 4th!

A BIG thank you to Maria Stoyadinova and her group from Compass Lexicon for their sponsorship of the June 29th Hollywood serving.

Food on Foot is the opportunity to be a part of a purpose driven organization dedicated to giving hope to those in need and those who desire to restart their lives after
difficult circumstances.

I like that 100% of donations are used for the benefit
of feeding those in need.

I will always remember the first Christmas my two kids
and I volunteered. There must have been 500 people
that showed up in the rain. They were so grateful
that we all cared and we were so grateful that we
could be apart of this wonderful sharing of goodwill.

-Marcia
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Food on Food is a chance for me to participate in some small way in giving someone not only a meal with dignity but a chance to reconnect (or in some cases connect) to a functioning lifestyle that includes, in some cases, employment, housing and a chance to give back by helping, mentoring and inspiring others who might have shared some of the same circumstances. Recycling at the highest level when it works!

The shared good feelings that flow back and forth between and among the volunteers and the people come for meals. The sharing of successes by people who have become housed and employed as a result of their participation in the program is a particular favorite of mine.

The last time I attended I was particularly impressed with the parents who were starting kids very young as volunteers. One mother spoke of bringing her daughter, who is now a late preteen, on her back as a baby. I also got to present a birthday present to a one hundred and eleven year old man.

-Bill