Giving Back for Thanksgiving

Grateful // Thanksgiving 2017

 

 

This Thanksgiving holiday I was honored with the opportunity to help those less fortunate alongside my dad, Dr Peter Morita 💖 I was proud to learn it was his 10th year volunteering at the event, but I was also nervous as it was to be my first.  And ohhhhh did it promise to be an unforgettable experience...I have the mini scar to prove it!! 

We left Wednesday morning, taking the 405 and then the 101 for about an hour before exiting Spring Street and arriving in downtown LA.  It was a beautiful day with sunshine and blue skies, but at 9:30 a.m. I could already tell it was going to be HOT ☀️

Located in the heart of the city, the LA Mission on Skid Row is very well known for their extraordinary efforts and support to the community they serve.

Upon arriving at the venue I was very happy to meet Kimberly Vodang, Ken Lively and the other members of the Warm Hearts Group that we would be working with.  Kimberly, founder of the project to bring warmth to the homeless and two time former beauty queen, was such an inspiration to meet ✨

After we checked-in with the LA Mission and participated in the orientation, we went out to our area, which was located at the very end close to where people were to exit.  The location gave me a clear view of the very real situation, where dozens upon dozens of people were living with next to nothing in their tents ⛺️

 

I spent the day handing out high quality blankets and food that Kimberly and her Warm Hearts Group collected to what seemed like a never ending line!  I enthusiastically and wholeheartedly wished every person and child who came through our line a Happy Holiday 🍁🍽💖

 

The experience was extraordinary!!  So many grateful people, happy mothers, and smiling children offering us their thanks and well wishes 🤗

My experience was also unique in the fact that early in the event I was physically assaulted by a member of the very community we were helping.  You see, the blankets that we were handing out were of high quality and very coveted...and the assailant was angry because she was not able to exchange her blanket for one of a different color/print.  After some words were exchanged between our team, the security, and the woman, she shocked everyone 😱 She stood up in her wheelchair, turned around, and threw a box of fried rice directly at my face!  She then sat down, tightly gripping her $50 blanket, and had her friend wheel her away as quickly as possible... 😂 I sustained a small cut to my chin and my lower lip swelled a bit, but the bleeding stopped and I didn't think there would be any permanent damage so I declined filing a police report 👮

 

And though I was smiling and joked about getting hit to put everyone else (especially my Dad) at ease, I was a bit shaken on the inside...