Madera’s Steak and Ribs Restaurant in Los Alamitos opened its doors to 120 homeless and nearly homeless veterans for a free special Christmas meal on Dec. 25 that included filet mignon and dessert.
LTC Bettina Avent (the PAO of the 79th SSC) and 40 some volunteers supported the owner’s big effort of serving 120 Christmas meals.
Word got out and there were three or four TV channels that came out and at least one reporter from World Journal (Chinese Daily News) in Los Angeles. The homeless and nearly homeless veterans’ stories brought tears to the many eyes there and were stories that LTC Avent shared with the media. Volunteer Art Garcia stayed until the last minutes of the dinner to go with LTC Avent to deliver more 20 meals to the Long Beach VA Hospital.
For many people, the holiday season is about rampant buying of presents and keeping to a hectic schedule. LTC Avent, Garcia and others wanted to jump off this frantic pace, taking time to not only appreciate the true meaning of Christmas but also to embrace the true spirit of Christmas.
This is a difficult time of year emotionally for so many, especially the homeless and those who served the country. Depression and anger can often build up inside of them. The stress builds upon more stress to destroy the holiday cheer for many.
A special acknowledgment goes out to Garcia and the volunteers who lighten up Christmas for the many homeless and nearly homeless veterans this year and who have done so for the past six years. While no gift can accurately reflect the love felt for those who are near and dear to us, we can show them that they matter by spending time with them.
