June 26th, 2011
We are often asked, while we are serving the meal on Sunday afternoon, “Who are you guys?”
We are a group of friends who want to help make life a little more bearable. More bearable to the hundreds of men and women who either live outside along the riverbed and under the freeways or people who are living well below the poverty line while they work and struggle for their various necessities of life.
LifeHouse was formed as a 501c3 in 2009 by Noel and Julie Cruz under the parent nonprofit group – Funds for Families. Since the inception of LifeHouse, we have given literally thousands of wholesome meals and food staples to men and women on Sunday afternoons. We serve people who have served our country, we see mom and dad’s who need a few extra snacks and food for their families, we see people in need from all walks of life.
We began serving at the riverbed with about 15 people eating with us. Today, we are seeing a steady crowd of about 100 to 150 people every week. It’s obvious that the need has grown as the economy gets tougher.
The people who we serve know these things about us: 1) We show up each Sunday regardless of weather, or holidays. 2) We serve delicious wholesome meals – we would not serve what we ourselves would not eat. 3) They receive clothes, books and supplies each Sunday as well. 4) We genuinely care about each person we serve.
Here is a typical Sunday:
100 cups of fresh ground coffee
5 gallons Iced Tea
120 cans of fruit and/or veggies
130 cans of chicken or tuna
90 jars of peanut butter
250 bottles of vitamin water or energy drinks
150 bottles of water
300 granola bars
130 bananas
500 Slim Jim beef sticks
And that’s not including the actual meal:
This Sunday was Teriyaki chicken over white rice with Chinese coleslaw
40 pounds of chicken
5 gallons of white rice
5 gallons of coleslaw
5 gallons of fresh green salad
Each person is given a clamshell serving plate for their food, a packet with eating utensils and salt and pepper, and a handiwipe, cups for their drinks, bags to take their supplies home with.
It is quite an operation and served up by people who love and care for others.
So when we are asked who we are… THAT’s who we are.
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