The Los Angeles Mission’s staff and students want to thank everyone who came out to volunteer or give to our Easter Event this past April 22nd, 2011. It certainly was no ordinary day on Skid Row to say the least!  As we are heading into our 75th year as a provider of hope and help to Los Angeles and the Skid Row area we thought that this day would be a perfect choice. It started with a beautiful release of doves symbolizing the peace and hope that the Los Angeles Mission offers on Skid Row.

People from all walks of life including celebrities and our own Councilwoman Jan Perry came to lend a hand. Councilwoman Perry even came in early to serve some 600 breakfast sandwiches to our friends and neighbors! President Herb Smith reminded the media that…”Many of the 600,000 meals we served last year were to people who came to us because of the recession’s impact on their lives…the Mission is working every day to give them the hand up.” All in all we serve some 4000 meals this past Easter Event!

The day was so special as many signature LAM recipes were prepared and served including our
Three cheese macaroni. Some 400 volunteers including Hilary and Haylie Duff, Zoe Saldana and Boo Boo Stewart worked tirelessly to make everything smoothly. To see so many efforts come to fruition was truly a sight to behold and we could not have asked for more perfect weather.
From the Christian tradition of washing our friends and neighbors feet which was headed by the Los Angeles Christian Health Centers to a beautiful art display provided by Tom Lackey which was a compilation of shots from the 12 Stations of the Cross that people were very touched by. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa came as he always does and spent many great moments washing our friends and neighbors dirty and hurting feet.

As the adults and children moved down 5th street they were greeted by CSULB’s team in way of hearing and speech screening or a wonderful balloon animal. As they moved past this part of the celebration the children were given an Easter Basket chock full of Easter goodies provided by JAKKS Toys while the men and women were given a brand new pair of shoes donated by etnies/Sole Technology. Over 600 Easter Baskets were given out while some 2000 pairs of shoes were lovingly given to the friends and neighbors of Skid Row.

We cannot say enough about our volunteers and donors who give so selflessly to help us make a difference. We want to say a huge thank you once again to etnies/Sole Technology not only for their amazing donation of 2000 pairs of shoes, the wonderful partnership with the Los Angeles Mission for the past eleven years but also for hitting a milestone of their own with their 25th Anniversary!