Thanks for the Backpacks!  – Watch Teri’s video on Youtube here

It was nice to hear good things about “backpack night” from a couple of our “regulars” Christmas Sunday.  Each week I try to post photos and a video or two- right from the corner -to Jackets for Jesus on Facebook.  Pretty cool to follow, right while we’re on the streets.  Something we never could have imagined when we first rolled up to hand out a car load of jackets, in front of the old Union Rescue Mission, previously on Main St, right next to St Vibiana’s – now a party place – just “Vibiana.” Sunday night, just after services and a meeting of some sort, January 1, 1989.  Pastors Dean Witkop and Ray Smith, then members of Central Community, rode with me in my little 1988 Honda Civic Hatchback – our son John’s still driving it.

23 years of Sundays– this Sunday night.  Doesn’t seem possible or even plausible for that matter… only God keeps doorsl like this open for so very long.  He’s too good and we’re forever grateful for every opportunity to serve, to share, to grow and love that He’s given us.

We’re starting the new year, 2012, on the streets.  As always, you’re invited.  God may use you to carry the torch for the next 23 years 🙂

Happy New Year… here’s to a year where everyone’s quick to share a jacket and an evening in joyous serving.

Eric

Happy New Year!

Absolutely Amazing… awe and wonder… Our huge truck, donated for the evening by good friends of Central Community, was packed tightly with hundreds and hundreds of backpacks. We left McDonald’s inspired and excited… and then we saw the waiting crowd… stretching from 3rd & Main St. to 6th & Main. Way over 1,000 people in line! The largest crowd we’ve ever had on the streets going back to January 1, 1989!

Joyous Insanity!

JOY To The World!

It’s Our Goal as the crowd grows anxious. Parents pushing their children forward. The challenged; the aged, blind, wheelchairs… all fought for a spot. The drunk, high, angry, desperate and insane, and the insanely desperate. Every Christmas it’s the same- like an out of control rush for the tree, everyone hoping for a toy -on Christmas morning… except with adults, who’ve been overlooked all year long and now run for their moment, fearful they’ll miss out.

The strength of our volunteers amazes me. They’re in the very heart of darkness in the middle of the night- and smiling -wishing Merry Christmas! Everyone should experience at least one Christmas Party with Jackets for Jesus. It’s a place where hearts are healed, faith restored, desires dampened… and miraculously, Jesus moves, newborn within us, among the poor, the homeless, the dispossessed… right back where He was 2,000 years ago.

Wildly, finally… the 2 or 300 who fought to be first disperse and the line, those who trust us and have waited for hours, a thousand or more this year, remain and the real party takes shape. Singing, shaking hands, Christmas conversations, new friendships as people move forward in hope- asking one question… “What’s in the backpacks?” One answer from us all: “We don’t know. Hopefully just what you need most this Christmas!”

We ran out of backpacks with hundreds of people waiting. Los Angeles Police officers, who graciously drop in and visit- for which we are very grateful each Christmas -thought possible 1,200 or more in line… whatever the number was- I personally walked the entire line 4 times as people stood in disbelief that we were out of food, out of backpacks, that somehow they’d missed out on their Christmas backpack from Jackets for Jesus. It killed me Sunday night. I tried not to think about it all day Monday… more brutal now to put the reality in print. We could’ve prepared for 1,000 and been a couple of hundred short.

The difference… Thanksgiving we fed over 4,000 and had food for 500 more. Sunday night we planned for 700 – how could we ever have that many? And fell 500 short. Friends looked at me in disbelief as I gave them the bad news. People didn’t argue or fight. The police asked if I would need help making sure they “dispersed peacefully?” They left so quietly. Like tears rolling down a cheek… only to fall away… the crowd was gone. I thought: “Merry Christmas!” And wished that, like Thanksgiving, we had more than enough. That there were 500 backpacks waiting in the truck for weeks to come. The difference between meeting all the needs and missing by a mile is a gap that’s pretty tough to fill. From my heated office… dinner and an evening with Debi await… don’t know how big the gap is for the guys watching hundreds of others enjoy their backpack while they still go without.

We’ll be back on the streets this Sunday, Christmas night. You’re invited. A little down hearted, a volunteer said: “Let’s buy 700 more backpacks and fill them for Christmas!” I let them know that we haven’t paid for the last 700 yet… that filling 700 packs in a week would be no small task… that finding every person who went without would be impossible. But I knew just how they felt… Ed, a long time friend on the streets, was stunned when he discovered there was no food or pack for him. We’ve shared a decade or more of Christmas parties and he’s always been remembered. Desperate, I reached out and quietly said: “Ed, maybe I can do something next week.” I knew it was impossible: Siempre’s Christmas party in TJ tomorrow, 3 Christmas Eve Services and Christmas morning… Even still, like my friend who wanted me to buy and fill 700 more packs, Just felt like I had to say something more than: “Sorry, better luck next year. Merry Christmas.”

Boxes of backpacks filled my office following Thanksgiving. I’d come to work and think: “How will we ever fill all 700 packs?” Because you took time out of your busy Christmas schedule to lovingly fill a pack, share a pack, have a backpack filling party with your family and friends, we got the job done. You’re all amazing… and the need is still so great… and apparently it’s growing. Don’t know what to expect for Christmas night on the streets… the week before we celebrate 23 years of serving on the streets together. If you don’t have plans for Christmas night at 10pm, join us. Monday’s a national holiday- hopefully you can sleep in. I know there are a bunch of folks who’ll be waiting in line who could all use a big hug for Christmas. Think I’m buying and filling a backpack for my friend Ed… maybe it will help until no one goes alone or without at Christmas. Know that I’m praying for you today. Continue to pray for Jackets for Jesus.

Christmas Crowds

Merry Christmas!

You Can Fill a Backpack in Love

Suggestions For Filling Christmas Backpacks For The Homeless

Food Items:
Water bottle, Snacks (Raisins, nuts, candy, dried fruit, crackers), hot chocolate, cookies, gift certificates to McDonalds/Starbucks etc.
Clothing Items:
Jacket (even a good used one is fantastic), Sweatshirt, T-shirt, underwear, new white socks, jacket, rain poncho, warm hat, gloves.
Personal Care Items:
Toothbrush, toothpaste, mints, gum, lotion, soap, shampoo, wash cloth, hand towel, comb or brush, floss, toilet paper.
Miscellaneous Items:
Bible, stationary, stamps, Radio or MP3 player, books, magazines, watch, first aide kit, phone cards/calling cards, a Christmas card, etc.
Think of what you would like/want if you were homeless and living on the streets. Feel free to use your imagination!

Filled backpacks should be returned to Jackets For Jesus, at Central Community, no later than Sunday, December 18th at 5:00PM.  Alternative drop off is our meeting point– McDonald’s just off Peck Rd exit and the 60 fwy (1185 Durfee Ave., South El Monte, CA, google map at link)  – we’ll leave in a caravan from there to the streets at approximately 9:30pm.

Backpacks can be dropped off with us at the McDonalds between 9-9:30pm, even if you’re unable to join us on the streets.  All packs must be in the LARGE TRUCK before we leave McDonalds.

Thanks so much.  Looking forward to a fantastic evening together.

Merry Christmas!

Eric