Goodness

With Christmas approaching the Wildwood Soup Kitchen is nicely and festively decorated in keeping with the season. And everyone -- our wonderful volunteers, our guests, and those who continue to support us -- are starting to exhibit the Christmas spirit. One of the consequences of this is the substantial increase in donations we've received in recent weeks. Because I know some of the donors personally, I also know that many cannot really afford the amounts they have donated. Such generosity -- folks giving from their need and not just from their surplus -- simply overwhelms me, a sign of the true goodness of so many people. These donations are especially appreciated now because of the major expense we face with the needed addition of a walk-in freezer and refrigeration unit. If all goes as planned, we hope to complete this project within a few months.

With Thanksgiving behind us, our next special meal at the soup kitchen will be served on Christmas Day. Thanks to the generosity of one family we were able to purchase some very nice spiral hams and all the other goodies needed to make up a full-fledged Christmas dinner. Since Christmas falls on Friday this year, Diane will not be the primary cook. She has, however, volunteered to assist the regular Friday cook and, naturally, I "was volunteered" to assist with the less skilled grunt work. Since all our children and grandchildren will celebrate Christmas with their own families up in Massachusetts, it makes sense for us to celebrate ours with our "soup kitchen family."

Some of our guests at the Wildwood Soup Kitchen

By the way, several readers of this blog have also generously contributed to the Wildwood Soup Kitchen, and I take this opportunity to thank you and to pass along the thanks of those who will most benefit from your kindness.

God's Peace...