CityTeam staff and volunteers prepare meal packages
to deliver at nearby low-income hotels.
See a short video on the event.
San Francisco Thank You (27 mb, Quicktime 7
required).
On Wednesday, November 23, 2005 about 40 CityTeam San Francisco volunteers, residents, and staff delivered 498 Thanksgiving food boxes to three local low income/single room occupancy (SRO) hotels on our street.
Every year we go as a group of 8-12 people with multiple bins of food boxes and walk to these SRO hotels. Each group begins at the top of the hotel and starts knocking on doors as we walk the hallways, announcing our presence with “CityTeam here delivering Thanksgiving meals.” Most of these hotels are crowded, dirty, and depressing places to live. Many of the people who opened their doors to our knocking were happy to see CityTeam and thankful for the meal.A few of the people we met were open to prayer and talking so we were able to bless them spiritually as well as physically. One woman came across my group handing out meals on the third floor of her building. When asked if she would like a food box she replied that she had already eaten. She then asked if someone would pray for her. I was so taken aback by this request. Most of us in the group had been asking if anyone needed pray at each door and not getting many takers on the offer. To have this woman so courageously ask for prayer when we hadn’t offered was touching to me. I was honored to be able to pray with her standing in that hallway. She blessed and encouraged me with her hunger for God.
Most volunteers walked away with a heart felt ‘thanks’ of their own as they were reminded of the many blessings they have received in their lives. Both years I have participated, I have appreciated my Thanksgiving Day with my family so much more as a result of this experience.
Heather Burrow, CityTeam San Francisco Staff
Photo gallery is below. For additional photos of the event, please visit our full event photo album here.
