DENVER CHRISTMAS PARTY
One of our most devoted members of WFWP in Denver, Hisako Geschwind, reminded us of her long-time friendship with a prominent local man who works with the Volunteers of America. After two or three planning meals at McD’s and a few phone calls, we contacted this lady and decided to help Volunteers of America by helping to support a homeless shelter for 25 older women. When we called the shelter, we were told that whereas other places who protect women and children receive lots of gifts during the holidays, this particular one was ignored by the general public and that the ladies needed hats, gloves, scarves and other warm articles.
We visited the shelter and were warmly greeted and given a tour of the facility. It was a big, beautiful building full of light. It had been a church originally, then an office building until the Volunteers of America acquired it and transformed it into the facility it is today. There was a big, clean kitchen, a huge dining room, conference rooms, laundry room, private sitting rooms, bath and shower area, several TV’s and bedrooms surrounded by a fenced-in patio in a quiet, residential area. The women receive medical, dental and vision care, are ministered to and also receive psychiatric care in an effort to uncover the reason for their homelessness.
On December 11th, we had a Christmas gathering to introduce the plan. Twenty people attended, seven of whom were guests plus three men. There was a short program and Mother Moon’s life story was presented, making everyone aware that Mrs. Moon was, indeed, homeless herself as a 6-year-old girl after communist police released her and her mother after 11 days of imprisonment in North Korea.
After an exciting and immense dinner of international food, holiday snacks and drinks we gathered to wrap boxes that had all been cut down to size. Gift wrap, scissors and tape were all prepared and everyone had a wonderful time wrapping them as you can see from the attached pictures. The gift boxes were assembled during the next several weeks as generous donations continued to come in because our local WFWP members and guests went home and cleaned out their closets and continued to donate many coats, sweaters and other warm garments. As the Volunteers of America staff requested, we delivered the gift boxes on December 23rd, the day after Denver received a foot of snow.
The women opened these gifts on Christmas Day with surprise and delight. Each beautifully wrapped box covered with red cellophane and tied in a pretty bow were all the same and contained the following: hats, gloves, scarves, tooth brushes, toothpaste, bar soap, sponge and body washes, hand and foot warmers, foot massage cream and candy. Also included were two DVD’s of underwater photography taken by the local dentist who donated the dental supplies.
The women expressed joy and appreciation. One WFWP member in attendance was asked to live and work there and even given permission to use the F150 truck owned by one of the residents anytime she, her husband or WFWP needed it.
One resident lady told us she had lost both her husband and daughter within the last year. Then her other children sold her home and forced her into this shelter. She was a woman with a dignified spirit and of marvelous capacity but whose health had broken down and whose children did not want her anymore.
Our local membership came to realize how great our blessings are and resolved to express continued love for our husbands, children and community and keep in mind that everything we have is borrowed from heaven.
