By: Muhannad Al-Darbi,
Junior Fellow

| am happy to tell you that the

December 9th holiday dinner

at the Lookout Society's Living
Room Drop-in Centre on
Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside

was an outstanding success!

My heart (and | trust yours too
was overwhelmed with happiness
and joy as a result of what we

all did that evening. Blessed are
those who have had the

chance to draw a beautiful smile
on a tired face, so you can

tell how blessed we were by
doing this for almost 150 people.
| expect that when most of us
look upon our lives, it will be
moments like this — when we
have done something for others
— that stand out.

| keep remembering that each
one of the people we met is a
wonderful human being. They
have hearts, feelings and stories
to tell... if they find listeners.

Anyone of us could have been

(or might one day be) in their
place. Perhaps we have been a bit
luckier. Regardless, we have
countless blessings, and for that
we may be thankful.

| was touched by how friendly,
kind, polite, and decent were the
guests of the Living Room.
Several times when | gave out
the last plate on my tray, |
noticed that person gave it to
someone older or to one

of the ladies. With a smile on
his face, one gentleman

told me, “Ladies always first”.

Everyone thanked us for our
help — with words, smiles and
tired expressions of sincere
and deep appreciation. Try to
imagine a similar reception in a
five-star hotel or restaurant.

Indeed it is true that teamwork
allows common people to attain
uncommon results. Some

people want it to happen, some
wish it to happen, others make

it happen. The members of the
SJC Outreach Committee made it
happen that night. Wonderful
volunteers like those on our com-
mittee and many of our fellow
residents are not paid — not
because you are worthless, but
because you are priceless. |

know that you all feel what we did
was just a drop in the ocean, but
trust me, the ocean would be less
because of that missing drop.

Thank you to every one of

you who worked so hard to make
this event a successful and
enjoyable experience that | hope
will be repeated many times

in years to come.