So it all started with a Merry Un-Birthday Party to celebrate the lives of women without homes.  I have to admit, I was surprised at the reaction. I was thinking that in their current situation these women might be inclined to be cynical about celebrations. I was wrong. They loved it. Instead of the usual soup kitchen style meal provided each night by a volunteer group, Marti decided to turn the evening into more of an event and give these women something to smile about – something that would give them a sense of dignity that anyone deserves.

Some had second thoughts about putting my wife in charge of these dinners, but now her vision is being considered a model for others to follow. People are tracking with her as she followed the Un-Birthday Party with “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” a private party “for guests only” with giant walls of windows opening to a sweeping view of Central Park. As the full moon was rising over the city of fables, the jazz band’s drums kick-started with guest’s fingers drummed on the tables. For the next hour and a half, they drank in the music as sustenance and enjoyed the excellent hospitality and the delicious dinner straight off the New York Ritz dining menu.

Now it’s on to Christmas.

As certainly love and generosity and devotion exist, you can see His abounding light increasing as even more volunteers take on Marti’s challenge to face into their fears of homelessness and together begin to extinguish the gloom.

It will be an elegant December evening of Joy with sprinkles and glitter to add to the magic of an imaginative dinner for 90 women without homes that out-beats the Whoville’s Who-pudding and rare Who-roast beast. Every guest, the tall and the small, will stand close together as we stand hand-in-hand and sing, sing, sing!

And what is a peppermint stick without a cup of steaming hot chocolate following a delightful dinner? Especially when waiting for that jolly old elf to appear. Thanks to your early generosity, he has already RSVP’d.

Consider joining your early Catch responders and add to the gifts of dignity we require. Together we can begin to push back the curtains in the lives of these women who, at this time, have very little by offering a personal and slightly impractical $25-$35 Christmas-wrapped present from the hair and skin care, make-up, or perfume categories. A Catch member suggests Bath & Body Works that offers $10 off any item (promotional code when ordering – F102785).

Besides – it is Christmas!

Send your wrapped gift to:
John Fischer
1278 Glenneyre
Laguna Beach, California 92651

Of course we are pleased to serve as your elves if you prefer to send a financial gift by December 12th to the same address, designated for our women without homes.