Kayleigh
While Christmas is the most played out holiday there is, it gives us a lot of opportunities to do good for this community. Now is the time to come together and help each other out. Put our differences aside just because it is Christmas, no other reason.
As someone who's job it is to bring the community together my job is a lot easier around the holidays. People were more in a giving mood which helped me out a lot. It also made me a lot busier.
This cool December morning I gathered some friends to help me serve food to the homeless shelter. We got a little pre Christmas meal to lift the spirits of the less fortunate and give them something to help them believe again.
Today was just the first day as I was able to set up warm meals all the way through the new year. But I wanted to help serve the community and do my part in making this city a better place. Even though I moved in to helping schools the homeless shelters were still a top priority and I'm happy I can get something done for them. Patrick and Marissa join me in the kitchen as we make some plates up. We let the Christmas music take over as we make new friends.
"Hang all the mistletoe
I'm gonna get to know you better
This Christmas
And as we trim the tree
How much fun it's gonna be together
This Christmas
The fireside is blazing bright
We're caroling through the night
And this Christmas, will be
A very special Christmas, for me."
I feel a pair of eyes on me and I try to figure out where the stare was coming from. I see Patrick standing next to me smiling as big as ever.
"What got you all jolly" I question.
"Just being with you" he claims as I start to blush.
"Cute" I giggle.
"Ugh, do you guys ever take a break" Marissa asks as I roll my eyes.
"You have a boyfriend now so I don't know why you're complaining" I accuse.
"I don't see him here. All I see is you two about to make all these people lose those their appetite" she accuses.
"Sorry for being in love. I'll try to tone it back just for you" I tease.
"No you won't" she mumbled.
"No I won't" I smile.
"Presents and cards are here
My world is filled with cheer and you
This Christmas
And as I look around
Your eyes outshine the town, they do
This Christmas
Fireside is blazing bright
We're caroling through the night
And this Christmas, will be
A very special Christmas, for me, yeah
Shake a hand, shake a hand now."
We finish plating the food and it all looked really good. It was nice and cold outside so we decided to go with chili for dinner today. We also get them some bread and fresh veggies to keep their health up.
We take the plates and passed them out to the people and give them what they needed along with a little bit of what they wanted too. I find a old merry man sitting by himself and decide to see what he was up to.
"The fireside is blazing bright
We're caroling through the night
And this Christmas, will be
A very special Christmas, for me yeah
Merry Christmas
Shake a hand, shake a hand now
Wish you brother Merry Christmas
All over the land
Merry Christmas
Merry Merry Christmas
Hey hey hey
Merry Merry Merry."
I set his food down on the table before I sit across from him. Once he sees the food he lights up a little.
"Bless your soul young one" he starts and I smile.
"Thank you. Can I get your name" I ask him.
His face falls and subsequently mine does too. He picks up his spoon as he starts to stir the shredded cheese into his chili. "I never new my real name. I was a orphan, tossed on the doorstep of a church. They don't know my name or my real birthday. I was given the name Gabriel by the church and said I was born about a week before they got me so that's what I go with" he explains.
"Well it's a pleasure to meet you Gabriel. I really like your smile" I say as he looks up at me. That smile returns to his face and I get all warm inside.
"Thank you. I like your... well your everything. You're a very beautiful young girl" he claims.
"That's very sweet of you to say" I nod. "So what brings you in" I question carefully. Not a lot of people like to talk about how they ended up here. More times than not it's not a good reason. But some people are better at facing realities than others.
"I haven't been here for long. But I lost my job and I'm having trouble finding another one. In my younger years I made bad decisions, I ended up in jail and I learned my lessons. I got out early for good behavior but that doesn't matter to most employers. I got fired for lying about my past but I tried to explain that my future is far more important that what I've done in the past. As it turns out most people don't really want the sob story" he sighs.
"I'm sorry to hear that. I'm a social worker for the city of Chicago and I do a lot in this city. I was able to get you some real meals and coats and other things. Maybe I can help you find a job" I insist.
"You work for the government" he asks me.
"No. I work with the government, I work for the people" I assure him.
"Well I really appreciate your help. I'm just afraid that you can't really do much for me. They look at what's on this paper about me and believe it even though I'm right here telling these people that I've changed" he says.
"I have my ways Gabriel, I don't often get denied things" I promise.
"I can tell" he smirks as I laugh.
"But I happen to know of a few places where you will be welcomed with a background. There's a lot of places in this city that needs hard workers like you. Let me set up a few interviews and we can see where to go from there" I try.
"I think that would work" he nods.
I leave him be to eat in peace and I find Patrick helping clean up the kitchen. I grab a pair of gloves and start to help him.
"So, how many more people did you go out there and promise to help" he accuses and I laugh.
"Only one, for your information" I tell him.
"Really? Who's the lucky person" he asks.
"He's a orphan so he doesn't know his real name, but his given name is Gabriel. He had a bad past but I looked into his eyes and I knew he wasn't like that. He had regret, and he had a want to be better. He is trying so hard to change his life around, I just want to help him" I shrug.
"It's hard to believe you're real some times" he accuses.
"I just really believe in the people. The system is broken and that's not their fault" I insist.
"Well as long as we have you there will always be hope" he claims.