The effort brought together people from across the country, including volunteers from Austin, Dallas and New York.
BEAUMONT, Texas — About 20 volunteers spent Christmas Day serving meals to people in need at Some Other Place, a Southeast Texas nonprofit organization.
The group prepared and distributed lunches enough for 300 people, making sure Southeast Texans experiencing homelessness would not go without a meal on the holiday.
Volunteers began serving at 9 a.m., with additional help arriving around 11 a.m. to distribute lunches. The effort brought together people from across the country, including volunteers from Austin, Dallas and New York.
“Austin, Dallas, New York, so we’re all from different areas of the United States,” said volunteer Jake Greenberg.
Some volunteers traveled to Beaumont to continue family traditions of service.
“Our grandma and our grandpa used to volunteer at Some Other Place, so we love to come to Some Other Place every year, help them prep food and serve hot meals for all the guests that come in,” Greenberg said.
Volunteer Tiffany Wilson said the group wanted to give back to the community during the holiday season.
“Ultimately we wanted to just come back and give back to the community with our service, this is a season for giving, not receiving. So we wanted to come out and just give our labor and self selfless love to someone else,” Wilson said.
For those receiving meals, the gesture held deep meaning. Hassan Dell, who is experiencing homelessness, said the effort showed people care.
“It means a lot. It means that they care,” Dell said.
Chris Robertson, executive director of Some Other Place, said the organization’s mission extends beyond providing food. He said volunteers offer a sense of reliability and support to those in need.
“More than the food, we kind of wanna make sure people know that they can count on someone or depend on someone. So they definitely get food, but more than that they get a place that they know is always looking out for them,” Robertson said.
Patrick Shreve, who is experiencing homelessness, said the meal represented an opportunity for growth and progress.
“What this meal means to me is it gives me a chance to grow. Not just grow, but take a step further. To get off the streets,” Shreve said.
Dell said he wanted to thank everyone who showed up to help.
“I really want to just thank everybody for just showing up and I know to count on, just sharing a conversation that will, especially to me, in giving thanks to them and appreciation because it means a lot,” Dell said.
Groups including Temple Emmanuel volunteer with the nonprofit every Christmas.
For more information about volunteering at Some Other Place, visit their site.
Dining and Cooking