Directions from Williamsburg:
Take Richmond Road West past outlets to 35 MPH zone.
Just after speed raises to 45 MPH, look for "emergency vehicle entrance" sign and turn left onto Forge Road.
Go 5.4 miles (50 MPH) to 25 MPH zone.
Take first left after 25 MPH sign onto Otey.
Go to end of road (.6 m.).
Turn right at stop sign and imm. right into first driveway.

We'll be waiting for you! :-)

The Christmas Giving Tree

The site is ready and people may start adopting! I still have names to add today, but a few are already listed. We are estimating over 100 people to sign up for our program, so if you don't see a person/child that you are interested in, check back frequently. To see the list of names, click here or go to www.thechristmasgivingtree.blogspot.com

Special thanks goes out to the following for their participation with Thanksgiving and feeding 847 people in Williamsburg:
Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church & Members (our hosts); Williamsburg United Methodist Church; Alice Carter; Sarah; Allison Sulock; Gloria Fleming; George & Dora Martin; the Schulte Family; Judy Fulks; Luke Henry; Mark, Stephanie, & Alex Smith; Bobby Medlin; Betty Brantley; Jim & Ann Moore; Lanny & Betty Smith; Scott Percic; Sadira Daher; Connie & Evelyn Jessie; Esther Knox; the Mitchell Family; Anastasia Abid; Danny & Daniel Kean; Alpha Omega Sports & Family; Dan & Sharon Steward; Aaron Fuller; Joel Gleiser; Bradley & Lincoln Dunn; Dave, Ben & Pam Lehman; the Kimminau Family; Ammon Young; Susan Sny; Yolonda Kelly; Nell Wingfield; Pete Webb, Jesse Rowe, Jewel Bryant, Janet Craig, Pastor David Craig, Stella EarmanBo Wingate; Liz Dye; Janice Grant; Tom Welton; Matt & Liz Peak; Suzanne Lever; Becky Baker; Aimee Lee; Lisa Pitts; Carabba's Restaurant; Heart's Ease Farms; Circle K; Food Not Bombs; HATForce; Wesley Campus Ministry; Catholic Campus Ministry; and Dusi's.

The Christmas Giving Tree

Well, as hard of work it took to get ready for Thanksgiving, our Christmas program takes much more co-ordinating. Slowly, yet diligently, I am working on the website to list names and wishes of people who need help during the holidays. We are still waiting to hear back from Williamsburg United Methodist Church about hosting the party on Dec. 23rd. Check back Monday for names to be listed and get ready to shop til you drop for the homeless and needy!

For the 4th year in a row, Williamsburgs Homeless & Indigent was privileged to organize the distirbution of Thanksgiving meals on Thursday. Eight Hundred and Forty Seven (847) meals were distributed. Amongst the many people/places receiving meals included: the long-term residents of local motels and campgrounds, Burnt Oridinary, Lafayette Square and Villages, Cambridge Apartments, Heritage Mobile Home Park, and the Blayton Building, et al.
Nearly one hundred volunteers gathered, from as far as Richmond and Virginia Beach, at Mt. Vernon United Methodist Chruch, which was kind enough to host the event, in Toano to help assemble dinners. Students from W&M and ODU (whose families live too far away for them to have gone home) also joined in. Special thanks to Sarah and Allison who stayed up all night to help Patti prep and cook.
The menu included the standards (turkey, dressing, and sweet potato casserole), but extended as far as Patti's exotic citrus and mango-pineapple stuffings, fresh-smoked turkey, and even 60 dozen deviled eggs! A veritable Thanksgiving feast.
So what's next for Williamsburgs Homeless & Indigent? While most people were out shopping the Friday sales, Patti was working diligently on the ministry's Christmas program, "The Giving Tree" (formerely "Adopt-A-Homeless" for Christmas.) Already 40 people have signed up and Santa's list is growing.
Also deserving special mention for their participation with Thanksgiving are:

Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church & Members (our hosts); Williamsburg United Methodist Church; Alice Carter; Sarah; Allison Sulock; Gloria Fleming; George & Dora Martin; the Schulte Family; Judy Fulks; Luke Henry; Mark, Stephanie, & Alex Smith; Bobby Medlin; Betty Brantley; Jim & Ann Moore; Sammy & Betty Smith; Scott Percic; Sadira Daher; Connie & Evelyn Jessie; Esther Knox; the Mitchell Family; Anastasia Abid; Danny & Daniel Kean; Alpha Omega Sports & Family; Dan & Sharon Steward; Aaron Fuller; Joel Gleiser; Bradley & Lincoln Dunn; Dave, Ben & Pam Lehman; the Kimminau Family; Ammon Young; Susan Sny; Yolonda Kelly; Nell Wingfield; Bo Wingate; Liz Dye; Janice Grant; Tom Welton; Matt & Liz Peak; Suzanne Lever; Becky Baker; Aimee Lee; Lisa Pitts; Carabba's Restaurant; Heart's Ease Farms; Circle K; Food Not Bombs; HATForce; Wesley Campus Ministry; Catholic Campus Ministry; and Dusi's.

Dinner for the homeless

JCC Woman Serves Dinner for 800

DIRECTIONS FROM NEWPORT NEWS TO MT. VERNON METHODIST CHURCH

This is the easiest, if not shortest, way to the church:

Take 64 West to Toano/West Point Exit (Rt. 30)
Turn left on 30 (towards Toano)and stay on it through traffic light
(30 will switch to Rt. 60 East, just stay straight
Speed limit will be 55 mph for about 5-6 miles)
Right after the speed reduces, you'll see Smokin' Joe's on your right
Turn immediately before Smokin' Joe's onto Church Rd.
The church is 1/4 - 1/2 mile on right

(We plan on putting out a sign on 60 to help you locate it.)

During this season of Thanksgiving, take opportunities to look and see how much there is for which to be thankful. Let us be thankful by showing forth our thankfulness for God's work in us and in the world. As we recognize God's care and provision for us, pray for those who do not yet understand that God has also provided for our spiritual needs through His Son. Pray that during this time of celebrating the harvest, there will be a great harvest of souls in the Kingdom. (Matt. 9: 35-38)
"Nothing should motivate us to pray for the harvest more than the knowledge that multitudes may receive Christ because we prayed." - Dick Eastman
May the goodnes of God be a light that pierces the darkness during this season of gratitude and praise. I pray that your heart will be filled with the light and love of Christ as you celebrate Thanksgiving.
"And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day." - Isaiah 58:10

Wow, what a busy week trying to prepare for Thanksgiving for the homeless here in Williamsburg! But, the upcoming week will be even busier as National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week is upon us (Nov. 12th-18th). I am just thankful that I have a home and food, but as an advocate for the homeless I must say my concerns and heart are with them. While the majority of us sleep peacefully in our beds at night, there are over 50 people that are forced to adjust their bodies in a car to sleep (only running the vehicle for a short time for warmth in fear of running out of gas), sleep hundled in a tent (hat is not seasonally adaquate) in the woods, sleep on the hard ground under the By-Pass bridge or even worse, wonder the streets all night.

Want to find out more about the homeless in Williamsburg? Or how can you as one person can make a difference in their life? I, as a local homeless advocate that works with the homeles one on one for a better way of life, have joined forces with several groups at W&M. One of the biggest ways you can help is to participate in the National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week that is sponsored by many of these groups.

We kick off the week Sun. Nov. 12th with a "Homeless Reality Tour". We meet at the Alumni Building parking lot at Noon and I take you throughout Williamsburg on a historical tour and at the end we go 'dumpster diving'. But if you can't make it at the first tour, don't worry because we do it all over again at 3:00PM. The cost is $5.00 per student and all monies goes to our Thanksgiving Day meals.

Mon. Nov. 13th, my hairdresser will be at the Meridian from 10:00AM til 4:00PM for our "Haircuts for the Homeless" fundraiser. Haircuts are $15.00 and what a way to help support the homeless and look good when you go home for Thanksgiving break!

Want to lose a few pounds befor Thanksgiving break? Come run with us! At 10:00AM we start the day off with a 5k run. Registration is $10.00.

Want to learn directly how you can help? Then why not ask the experts? THE HOMELESS! Sat. Nov. 18th we are doing our 4th "Homeless Panel" in Blair 229 at 4:00PM. Come hear their stories, ask questions and find out why I hold a special place for them in my heart.

So please join us in our efforts to make a difference in a person's life. Help us give hope to those in a town that deny they have no homeless. For more information, email wsmburghomeless@yahoo.com or hunger@wm.edu