 12
Days of Christmas Outreach Brings Joy to Over 1,800 in Virginia
During the first twelve days of December, Operation Blessing worked with community groups throughout
Hampton Roads, Virginia to bring holiday joy to our hungry and hurting neighbors. Each event targeted
a special needs group including teens in crisis, battered women, prisoners’ families, the
mentally ill, the homeless and shut-ins.
Choose an event below to see how lives were touched!
12/1: Holiday luncheons for the elderly
 On December
1st lively Christmas music and friendly chatter floated out of Young Terrace Senior Center’s
gymnasium doors, located in a low-income housing area in Norfolk. Volunteers served 162 disadvantaged
elderly men and women a holiday lunch that included all of the trimmings. Once in a while the
guests would pause from eating to see if their ticket number would be called. If so, the lucky
winner would take a prize home in addition to a Christmas gift bag.
Stella sat at a table with a few of her neighbors. This widow had six children, sixteen grandchildren
and six great-great-grandchildren. Even in her later years she still works hard taking care of
two of her grandchildren so their mother can work. Stella was grateful for this special day as
it gave her time to celebrate the season too -- “I enjoyed myself” were her parting
words!
Joseph and Mabel enjoyed the meal with Stella. Married for forty-eight years, the elderly couple
raised seven children and have eight grandchildren. Joseph retired from working in the grocery
store business after thirty years. But things have become difficult for him as he is now partially
blind. Joseph and Mabel were grateful for the holiday celebration and were excited to each receive
a holiday gift bag filled with food to fix at home and a stuffed bear! They are excited to be
able to pass the bears on to some of their grand children – as their budget is stretched
to the limit already!
12/2: Food and gift basket delivery to shut-ins
 “Lord!
This is a blessing,” exclaimed Ms. Marjorie. Volunteers from Operation Blessing and partnering
Mt. Carmel Baptist Church had walked through her front door with a bag of groceries and a turkey.
The 72-year-old widow continued, “I can’t hardly wait to call my sister to tell her
about the turkey I got for Christmas.”
Ms. Marjorie was one of 200 individuals and families in Hampton Roads that received a holiday
surprise at their front door on December 2nd. However, not all of these shut-ins were elderly.
Jackie was only 42. As a single mother, she already had a hard time providing for her teenager.
Recently the recovered drug addict received the devastating news that she had to begin kidney
dialysis three days every week. Determined to survive, Jackie prayed.
Volunteers knocked on Jackie’s door late Thursday morning. Overwhelmed with the gifts they
brought, she began crying tears of joy and said, “I don’t believe this.” Even
though circumstances seem grim, Jackie knows there are people that have not forgotten her.
12/3: Holiday luncheon with the mentally ill
 The Beach House
in Virginia Beach is a special place. Its’ 200 members are mentally ill adults that work
hard to be meaningful members of society.
Adam has been a member for eight years. This young man is studying for his GED with a goal of
getting an electronics’ degree. He dabbles in radio broadcasting at home and works in the
retail unit at Beach House. Rich Danzeisen, OBI’s assistant director of outreach, had an
opportunity to talk with Adam as the two set up a sound system to be used for caroling later.
“I think it’s amazing that Adam is living his dream,” he commented.
On December 3rd, volunteers and members celebrated an early holiday season as well as the Beach
House’s 25th anniversary by decorating, eating a special lunch, watching a presentation,
opening gifts and singing carols. “This was excellent!” commented Adam.
“I thought it was very nice,” expressed Andrew, a member for twenty-two years. The
fifty-four-year old works one day a week in the clerical unit.
“Everybody was so looking forward to you coming,” commented Beach House’s director
Amy Darden. “It adds to their sense of hope.”
12/4: Christmas luncheon with prisoners’ families
 Some boys and
girls got to open up gifts early this year! Excited children and parents poured into the gymnasium
of Parkway Temple in Chesapeake on December 4th with the expectations of having fun. And they
weren’t disappointed!
After volunteers served a holiday buffet lunch surrounded by beautiful decorations it was time
to open presents! Operation Blessing worked with Angel Tree ministries (an incarcerated family
member submits a child’s name to Angle Tree so the boy or girl will get a gift from their
loved one) to make every boy and girl’s dreams come true.
All 4-year-old Christian wanted was a Spiderman bike. His mother had no idea how that was going
to happen. Her husband is serving an 18-month sentence, leaving her struggling to provide for
the family financially and emotionally.
After waiting patiently to hear his name called, Christian’s eyes became huge as a Spiderman
bike with a big red bow was rolled from the stage to his table. With tears in her eyes, the little
boy’s mother watched him jump on the bike and ride slowly around on the gym floor. She managed
to say, “Today meant a lot.” All in all 120 people were reached through this happy
event.
12/5: Day of beauty for battered women
 Violence is
the leading cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the United States. Bruised
and broken, they flee to emergency shelters where they hide in fear and shame. But December 5th
was a day of restoration for women in the shelters of Hampton Roads!
Sunday was truly a day of rest and pampering for several dozen women who had not felt beautiful
or worthy for a long time. Rudy and Kelly Academy of Hair and Nails partnered with us to open
their doors and give guests the royal treatment! The women received everything from a shampoo,
haircut, and hair color to manicures and pedicures. To finish their visit with perfection, Mary
Kay consultants set up skincare and makeover stations.
Angela came in with an afro. She couldn’t remember the last time she had had her hair done.
In just a couple of hours, the 44-year-old’s hair had been relaxed, her eyebrows waxed,
as well as her toes and fingernails done. With gifts in hand, the grateful mother said, “This
has been a wonderful experience.”
“This has been such a blessing to me, to us all,” commented Melody. “It is
a gift from God to know that we are all special.”
When one of the women thought she was being a bother, the stylist replied, “It’s
all about you today.”
Owner Rudy Russo shared, “We do anything we can to give back to the community. We are excited
to see these women here.”
12/6: Christmas dinner for the homeless
 Bruce sat at
Judeo Christian Outreach’s dinner table with a few of his friends – in his wheel chair.
Earlier this year, blood clots had robbed the quiet man of both legs. Tragedy struck again when
his mother died in the fall. He tried to be strong and amazingly continued to find work by laying
sewage lines.
Randy sat across from his friend Bruce. After being in a bad car accident in 1987, the northern
New Yorker’s disabilities prevented him from working. He came down to Virginia Beach almost
three years ago in search of warmer weather. Randy comes to the Judeo Christian Outreach regularly
for meals.
Ninety-three hungry men, women and children were guests at our Christmas dinner on December 6th.
As volunteers served everyone a big plate of turkey with all of the trimmings as well as cake
and ice cream, guests were treated to carolers in the background. Gifts for all ages were given
out after the meal had been eaten.
Patricia’s three children were among those ripping open the wrapping paper. “I didn’t
know what I was going to do for Christmas so every little bit helps,” she said.
12/7: Christmas party for teens in crisis
Note: pictures were not taken due to the sensitive nature.
About twelve guys and girls piled into two vans on December 7th. They were from Seton House,
group homes for teens in crisis. Volunteers drove down to Virginia Beach’s holiday light
show on the boardwalk. After “ooing” and “awing” about light fixtures
of things including Santa on a surfboard, it was pizza time.
The evening was a time for the guests to forget about their problems for a little while and be
normal kids. They were among the hundreds of teens that run away from home and ended up in the
Hampton Roads area. The evening convinced them that someone cared about them and wanted to see
them happy. The night ended with gifts too!
12/8: Ho Ho Holiday for the visually impaired
 Close your
eyes. What do you hear? Guests at Operation Blessing’s dinner for the Virginia Association
for the Blind were greeted with sounds of Christmas carols being lightly played on the piano and
guitar. Mistress of ceremonies and visually impaired herself, Alice Mulbone quipped over the microphone,
“You all look so good!” She was awarded with joyful laughter (ho ho ho!) and, “Thank
you. You do too.” Soon smells of sliced turkey, herbed dressing, fresh green beans and warm
rolls welcomed guests to begin eating.
Even though Franklyn lives in a world of shadows and flickers of light, his life is still very
bright. The ninety-two-year-old was one of the guests on December 8th. Shortly after retiring
from forty-eight years in education, this gracious man began losing his eyesight. The former music
teacher and superintendent of schools became what is know as “white cane blind” in
1996. Now he passes some of the time by crocheting robes and sweaters. Thankfully, family lives
nearby and visits him often.
When time came to sing carols, Franklyn joined in with noble enthusiasm. “It’s a wonderful
social time,” he said. “I can get out and meet people. It makes me feel grateful.”
Don and Betty sat to Franklyn’s right side. Their lives changed forever when Don lost his
sight in 1994. The Vietnam veteran and former electrician had suffered complications from diabetes.
Betty works in the mother/baby care unit of a local hospital while her husband shares his professional
knowledge over the phone. “There is so much for the blind to do,” commented Don. “They
just have to get up and do it!”
The evening ended on a happy note as everyone left with gifts and door prizes. For the seeing
person, it had been light when the evening began and now it was dark. For the visually impaired
guests it had been dark at the beginning and a little brighter at the event’s end. Thank
you for helping us to make them feel special for the second year in a row!
12/9: Christmas party for those with developmental disabilities
 The holiday
spirit filled the hall as Michael proudly sported a Santa hat on Thursday evening. He and his
mom Linda were two of the guests celebrating at Operation Blessing’s sponsored event with
the Special Olympics. The 31-year-old is on the Special Olympics’ swim and bowling teams.
He also enjoys giving hugs and has a great smile.
Brian, 31, is also mentally handicapped, but this does not stop him from being a goalie for the
soccer team or playing basketball. He came to the party with his father Bob. “This gives
them an opportunity to get out and mingle with friends like them,” Bob commented.
A local rock band entertained Michael, Brian and the others with a holiday message as they filled
plates up at the dinner buffet. It included pizza, finger sandwiches, vegetable tray, fruit tray,
chips, beverages and dessert. After everyone was done eating and the band wrapped up, all of the
athletes happily received a present. The guys teased each other about having to start smelling
good when they saw that their present was a cologne gift package. The girls loved their cosmetic
case filled with makeup. The little ones also received a special red gift bag.
Thank you for partnering with us in sharing holiday joy to those with developmental disabilities
this season!
12/10: Holiday dinner for foster kids
Note: Pictures were not taken at this event to the sensitive nature of our guests
Last Friday night more than fifty teens and young children came to a holiday party especially
created for them. All of these guests had at least one thing in common; they were foster children
in the City of Norfolk’s system.
At the beginning of the party, volunteers got their young guests in the Christmas spirit with
a fun rendition of “The 12 Days of Christmas”. They all had a chance to eat from a
nice dinner buffet and sing Karaoke if they wished. There were also presents for everyone!
 12/11:
Christmas lunch with homeless families
Curious little eyes peered into the dinning room of the ForKids, Inc. homeless shelter. They
were excited to see volunteers setting up rows of Christmas gift bags. The boys and girls’
stomachs began to growl; they smelled the barbecue and fried chicken lunch they were about to
eat.
Then the music started and they were encouraged to jump on in! Twenty-two homeless children and
their mothers came to our Christmas party on Saturday afternoon. Crystal and her three toddlers
were among the first to come downstairs from their room. Pregnant with her fourth child, Crystal
found herself not having anywhere for her family to live. They moved in to the ForKids house on
September 11th. Since then, she’s found a full time job as a telemarketer and has a goal
of going to business school.
Crystal enjoyed watching her 3, 2 and 1-year-old singing Christmas Karaoke with the volunteers
and opening early presents. “The transformer will keep him [Savion] occupied for days,”
she said. “Thank you. It was nice for the children. You guys were great; the food was good;
the presents were wonderful.”
 12/12:
Holiday fiesta for migrant workers
Macario sat in the back of the church hall and watched his co-workers and their families receive
wrapped presents from volunteers. He missed his family. The 61-year-old’s mind drifted to
happier times when he had spent the holidays with his wife and five children. That was when he
could make a living by growing corn in Mexico.
A year ago Macario decided the only way to feed his family and provide the children with a better
future was for him to join the hard migrant crop circuit. In spite of being illiterate and not
understanding any English, the quiet man works hard in fields along the east coast. His goal is
to be back home by the holidays next year.
Macario was one of about 100 guests that came to the Christmas Fiesta sponsored by Operation
Blessing and the Eastern Shore Rural Health Systems on Sunday night. Workers came down the road
from the Pungoteague Migrant Camp to Belle Haven Methodist Church for a party. For the next several
hours they enjoyed eating Pozole soup (tomato base with harmony, pork, onions and cilantro), singing
Spanish Christmas carols and receiving presents. Thank you for helping us share holiday joy to
this often forgotten people!
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