Much like what was reported in this CBS 60 Minutes segment (link posted below), Breakfast Together Outreach comes across many families living in cars and motels. It can be very hard to overcome the obstacles that confront you once you get bad credit. Fortunately, there is help! A healthy community is what's needed to get a fresh start in life. When the church opens its arms and acts as Jesus says, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest" found in Matthew 11:28 --  then, miracles are very possible!

By the time a family becomes homeless, chances are that they have exhausted the resources their family and friends might have been able to provide. That's when a church body can come alongside a family and support them spiritually while connecting them to the physical resources they need. Most Southern California resource programs are under-staffed and fail to provide the follow-through to make sure the solution gets implemented as designed. This is where an experienced outreach volunteer can make all the difference. We have seen firsthand that many families find hope that matured into help, that eventually became stability in their lives. Better yet, some of those families return to help others facing the same struggles that they overcame. Thus, love comes full circle!

If you missed the 60 minute episode, watch it via this link:

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7358670n&tag=related;photovideo

Tucked away in the backstreets and alleys of Dana Point, away from the homes on the bluffs and yachts, is the city's homeless and transient community. They venture out only briefly onto the main boulevard known as PCH and rarely are greeted with a smile.

Al, a Dana Point resident, couldn't even think of enjoying Thanksgiving without first considering what he could do for his homeless neighbors in the area. So, he put to use his several years experience serving food and helping to lead the Breakfast Together Outreach at San Clemente's Algodon Motel and applied it to a free holiday meal event on Sunday.

 Bolstered by some help and support from Craig, who still serves food and love in San Clemente, and his Saddleback Church men's small group study, Al was able to kick off his vision to spread God's love in Dana Point. More than thirty people came for turkey, ham, and all the trimmings to an office parking lot just off Del Prado (PCH southbound) in the late morning and early afternoon. It was an answer to prayer... and Al's outreach ministry was off and running.

Al recounts the story:

"Rick, his wife Susan, Craig & Alex did most of the serving. They were all excited every time a person came.

"So, I prayed that God would send at least five people, since we had so much food...He definitely answers prayers. We ran out of almost all food by 11:30, and we still found something to serve when more people came at 12:30.

"We had almost everything put away by 12:45 and one guy showed up. So, we fed him and after feeding him we had minimal turkey (wings) and a few pieces of ham left. We packed the rest in a baggie and gave it to him. Wouldn't you know it? Five minutes later, another guy showed up. I mean everything was put away, so the guy who had the baggie of wings said, 'I have already eaten, here ya go dude, you can have my food.'

"WOW! I tell you, we can sure learn a lot about love and taking care of one another from the less fortunate. This blew my mind. This could have been that guy's dinner tonight and he gave it away to someone who had not eaten."

Thanks also goes out to Dennis Grimes, who is a local real estate broker and owner of the building on which the property used for the outreach sits. His permission to use the parking lot is deeply appreciated. Dennis was so excited about the event he said, "We should do this every weekend." If he only knew that the plan was already in Al's mind.

There is a large utility room that's perfect to store all of the ministry items needed. It even has electricity so that Al can make some of his famous paint-peeling coffee. Also, there are carports in case of rain. Praise God for providing!

Plans are to do another meal on December 19th. If you are interested in helping, supplying food or other items needed to support this ministry please let us or Al know. There is definitely a need for many items. Al can be reached at ap4re@aol.com.

(download)

Click here to download:

a-mind-blowing-thanksgiving-weekend-ohdxmiHnksrIDIFdkBoH.zip (5.75 MB)