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Highlands Today

Christmas Meal Feeds Homeless, Hungry

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By GARY PINNELL

Highlands Today

Published: December 22, 2008

SEBRING - Jim and Susan Frazier saw a sign posted at the Lake Bennett RV Park, where they're wintering between Avon Park and Sebring.

They were among two dozen volunteers who showed up to work Saturday alongside Mike Brown and Mayor George Hensley, serving salad, green beans, bread, coleslaw and half a barbequed chicken.

"Most of these people are homeless, or they live in the neighborhood and they show up every day for lunch because they can't afford the food," said the Rev. Michael Karl, sitting across a table from his wife, the Rev. Patricia Karl, inside the New Testament Church and Mission, 604 Lemon Ave.

The outdoor meal on a sunny 75-degree Saturday afternoon in Florida had a spontaneous feel because Brown set it up just a month ago after consulting his wife, Cheryl, and his 14-year-old son, Dylan.

This was a rough year for businesses as well as people, said Brown, a former Highlands County deputy who is now involved in construction and a used car lot belonging to his father, Rufus Brown.

"We have recently struggled to keep our businesses afloat, experiencing more months in the red than in the black," Brown wrote in a Dec. 9 letter to the editor of Highlands Today, when he announced his intent to host the dinner. "These tough economic times have forced the layoff of staff, reduced pay and benefits to employees, and as of late we have been forced to borrow money, as well as reach into personal savings and retirement funds to keep the doors open.

"Recently I was talking with my father about these harsh realities and we each confessed concern for our families, our worsening economy, and the aftermath left behind one of the most divisive elections ever seen. I have begun to worry about how I am going to provide for my family as a lack of customers have left us hanging at the end of a rope. No government lifelines are being thrown our way.

"We decided to scale down Christmas this year," said Brown, "not spend as much money. It started being revealed to me how blessed we are."

Cheryl and Dylan agreed - no Christmas presents for them either. Instead, they would get up early Saturday morning. Dylan rose at 4 a.m. and helped dad cook 300 chicken halves with the Sebring Firemen. Cheryl made the slaw.

Tim Blackman offered to boil enough green beans to feed 300.

"Back when I owned Captain D's, I could use those stoves," he said. But he sold the business to the corporate owners last fall, so he had to heat up those green beans on his kitchen range.

"It was hard to get enough BTUs under them," Blackman smiled as a crowd of 60 started forming for the 11:30 a.m. lunch.

The meal was paid for with about $5,000 in donations from about 50 people, Brown said. One gift came from Reformation Church; others read his letter to the editor in Highlands Today. However, he reminded, people are hungry 365 days a year, so the mission needs constant support.

"Somebody wanted to sell tickets," said Karl, who started the mission 32 years ago. "I asked them, 'Did Jesus pass the basket when the fed the masses?'"

With the white foam container with the grilled chicken in his left hand, one man danced to holiday music. By 11:30 a.m., 40 had lined up for a meal.

The mission has room for a few dozen men, women and children. Karl said some are homeless for weeks before they check into the dormitories, so they need socks, underwear, toothbrushes and toiletries.

"We're up to here with turkeys," said Karl, leveling a hand at his chin. "We need hamburger, and paper plates, and toilet paper, and napkins, and bleach. And soap powder, and cleaning products."

Highlands Today reporter Gary Pinnell can be reached at gpinnell@highlandstoday.com or 863-386-5828

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