Members of the Region XI Chapter of Blacks in Government and other local service groups
volunteer at the D.C. Central Kitchen. The group presented a check for over $1,000 to the D.C.
Kitchen after preparing and serving food.
The Gift of Giving
By Kristin Gray
Images of the holiday season are nothing at all. Their children may This is the stinging truth that
etched indelibly into the minds of stare at the unoccupied space where millions of people face during the
many Americans — warm faces a Christmas tree could have stood, holidays. However, several area
emblazoned around the fire place, and wonder what they’d done wrong- community service organizations
sprawling mounds of dishes and -- why didn’t Santa Claus visit them, and individuals hope to paint a new
food platters and the smug security too? An elderly grandfather may sit image of the holiday season for local
that accompanies having friends and alone in his small, isolated apartment residents that are homeless, poor or
family nearby. But for some, this on Christmas Eve, taking fleeting coping with an illness this year. From
image is a far cry from their harsh glances out of his bedroom window recent college students to multifac-
reality. For these poverty-stricken in hopes that his grandchildren will eted organizations with community
Americans, Thanksgiving dinner may remember to stop by and visit this service at their core, TRENDS salutes
be a paltry can of soup and bread or year. two exceptional metropolitan-area
8 Trends A publication of the Afro-American Newspapers
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