By Megan McBride

The sentiments that accompany the holiday season are often the warmest and most cheerful of the year because of families and friends brought together in celebration. But imagine the difficulty of being left without a home or a family while everyone else celebrates with family and friends. This is the situation in which Scott* found himself last winter when he came to PATH West Los Angeles over Christmas and New Years.

When a local congregation decided to invite residents of PATH West L.A. to their church to celebrate Christmas, they gave one of the most meaningful gifts that a community could give. The guests from PATH were provided with meals and gifts like gift cards to the local coffee shop and stores within walking distance from PATH, as well as meaningful hand-made gifts from the children.

“The children had hand-made small felt Christmas stockings in red and green, and filled them with Christmas candy,” Scott said. “I have mine to this day.” The event was organized by one of the church parishioners who was a previous resident at PATH West L.A. The PATH alumna knew what would most appreciated by the residents, giving gifts of personal sized shampoos, soaps and other toiletries. In addition to the smaller gifts, there was a drawing for larger gifts and a room with men’s and women’s clothing from which the guests could select new outfits.

“Unless you were there, you just can't imagine how good that day felt to me and all of us at PATH.  It still makes me cry to remember it,” Scott said.

When the residents arrived back at PATH, the staff there had also brought gifts, chosen specifically for each resident. Scott arrived at PATH without a bathrobe and was given a bathrobe and blanket that he now uses almost everyday.

“The neat part was that each one was the right size, and showed that real thought had gone into the gifts for each person,” Scott said. “The whole thing left me and my fellow residents with a warm glow. As much – or more – for the knowledge that someone cared as for the gifts.”

“All of this holiday cheer was in addition to the incredibly nice people from various churches and temples who prepared and served us meals many times a week for the whole length of my stay,” he continued. “To know that those people cared felt as good as the food tasted!”

This past spring, Scott found full-time employment and was able to move into his own apartment.

*Name has been changed to protect privacy.

The photo above is not of the man described in this story, as he has requested to remain anonymous.
Photo from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shavar/15605145/