Room at the inn: Hyatt in downtown Dallas welcomes the homeless

[babylonsister]

Room at the inn: Hyatt in downtown Dallas welcomes the homeless

05:03 PM CST on Wednesday, December 24, 2008

By DAN X. McGRAW / The Dallas Morning News
[e-mail]


For the past month, Jennifer Bonds has lived life on the cold streets of Dallas, barely noticed by the dozens of people who walked past, rarely hearing so much as a friendly hello.

On Christmas Eve, that changed.

Outside the Hyatt Regency Dallas, Ms. Bonds walked down a 75-foot red carpet, to the applause of smiling onlookers.

She was one of more than 400 homeless men and woman taking part in the Christmas Angel Project, started in 2004 by SoupMobile Inc, a nonprofit agency that feeds the hungry.

Participants are given a night in a warm, clean room at the Hyatt. They get new clothes and time to shower before an afternoon banquet. Later, Pizza Hut and Chick-Fil-A provide dinner and snacks for the men and women in their rooms.

“This is fantastic,” Ms. Bonds said. “This wasn’t fake. This was sincere. I saw it in their eyes.”

The participants also get to spend Christmas Day at the hotel, and they get a few gifts.

“These people have nothing,” said David Timothy, who helped organize the event. “This is a way to make their Christmas memorable.

“We are making room in this inn for them.”

more...

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/122408dnmethomleless.1f8a581.html

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear babylonsister!

What a wonderful story...

I'm sorry that it's only for one night...

But what a gift for those people, who are in so much need...

God bless them, every one!


K&R


:hug:

[babylonsister]

2. I know, Peggy, only for one night, but the gesture

got to me, too. It's nice to see the Christmas spirit out there.

[bigtree]

10. we do something similar with vets, usually a couple of days

The "Stand Down"
Stand Down for Homeless Veterans

http://www.nchv.org/standdown.cfm

2008 Stand Downs
The National Registry of scheduled Stand Down programs and contact information for event coordinators.
http://www.nchv.org/standdownevents.cfm

[babylonsister]

19. Very nice! I do remember reading about this last year maybe?

Every effort helps, doesn't it.

And happy holidays to you, friend. :hug:

[Gregorian]

3. I would love to have a hotel so I could do just this.

Thanks for sending that our way! I'm pretty low on humanity right now. But I can see how excellent it would feel to help people who need help. I've done a little, but it would be so good to be able to do it on a big scale. It gives me hope that even in my desperation I can perhaps someday do something like that.

I paid someone's rent a few months ago. That's my little story.

[JerseygirlCT]

14. That was wonderful of you! nt

[maryf]

23. My attempt to help was taken...by a wonderful person

Yesterday, I called a family restaurant in the town a homeless friend of mine from across the country lives in, and asked if I could give them my credit card number to pay for my homeless friend's Christmas meal. He said he was uncomfortable using phone credit cards because he knew of some who'd been burned. He suggested that we talk after the meal by phone when my friend had finished and left, that he would cover it and I could pay him back...when I called he refused to give me his full name or contact address...wanted to pay for it himself!!! I know those folks in that industry don't make a lot, and this was for a stranger too. God bless him!! and he'll get no pr on this either!! Truly made me cry... Gives me a chance to figure out another Christmas gift for my friend!! Oh, and another woman asked her to a later meal to boot!! When we let go of our fears the love comes pouring in...

[Hydra]

4. It's too bad it's only for one night

But having been there before, any relief is welcome.

[ThomCat]

5. This is wonderful!

I would love to be part of something like this. :)

I hope it becomes a more regular thing, and I hope it leads to more people getting involved in searching for more permanent solutions to poverty and homelessness.

[GentryDixon]

6. How wonderful.

Why can not we do this all year long? We must pull together to weather this storm Bush is leaving us. Thank you for making me feel good tonight. Christmas has been hard on me since I buried my sister, Sweet Jeannie, 10 years ago tonight.

[babylonsister]

9. Welcome to DU, sherbear, and

I'm sorry about your sis. It is nice to know there are caring people out there.

Happy Holidays to you! :hug:

[GentryDixon]

15. Thank you.

Merry, Merry:hug:

[Missy Vixen]

7. I've stayed in that hotel before

I was there two years ago for the Romance Writers of America's national conference. To say that the hotel was lovely, but the service was even better, is an understatement. The only other hotel I've ever stayed in that even came close as far as going out of their way to make their guests happy is the Atlanta Hilton.

Even if it's just one night, I'm hoping that those 500 people lining each side of a red carpet and cheering as the people made their way into the hotel made an impression on each person as they walked by. We all know there is no such thing as "pulling oneself up by the bootstraps", but there is such a thing as knowing your life matters.

Let's hope that some of the people involved in this project have the resources to give a hand up to those staying in the Dallas Hyatt Regency tonight, and they take that chance.

Julie

[Greyhound]

8. Really nice find, thanks. K&R

[Liberal_in_LA]

11. Lovely story. Going back to read more

[kiva]

12. Thank you for posting this story,

what a wonderful gift for those 400 people.

[and-justice-for-all]

13. I think cities should take responsiblity for their homeless folks...

there are enough empty homes and easily modifiable commercial facilities that could be used to aide the homeless on a long term bases.

I understand the gesture from the Hyatt and appreciate it, put I do hope that they will also get a good meal, a warm bed and a shower and not just frivolous gifts.

[babylonsister]

20. Did you read the article? Banquet, bed, shower, late night snack, etc.?

I'm not complaining. I think this is a magnificent gesture. That's a lot of people.

[maryf]

16. K & R

Waiting for the day that everyday is like Christmas...where everyone has a bed every night, thanks for this!! Hope this starts something big...Very worried about a friend of mine with no bed for this night...

[Fleshdancer]

17. THIS is the Texas I love

We're a big state and yes, we have our fair share of stupid (and then some), but we have more than our fair share of incredible and generous people too.

I love this story. Thank you so much for posting it. :)

[Gregorian]

18. Schindler's List

We, or I should say "I", buy in to hate and fear. But I am no different than anyone. I'm just honest.

There is a vacancy in the middle. Between love and between it and hate. And it seems that it requires a leap. I have made that leap once or twice. But I reside on the wrong side much of the time. But I do see the benefits of making that passage into caring and loving.

I find that our actions not only affect others, but they affect us as well. When I help, I am helped. This is the realization that must be made in order to create a happier world.

[Ishoutandscream2]

21. And this is Dallas, folks. Can we at least give some love to my city on DU

for once? We do have some fine people in the metroplex.

[NaturalHigh]

22. K and R'ed as the inspirational post of the morning.

I'm sad that anyone ever has to spend a night on the streets, but at least some of the unfortunate among us are given a break for one night.