The 25th annual Mimi Adams "Holiday Luncheon for those without Homes" will be held at St. Augustine's on Thursday, December 24th from 11-1 p.m.

The late Mimi Adams was Paul Cummings' sister. Paul was the last headmaster of St. Augustine's Parish Day School at the time of the great fire and subsequently opened on this site the Crossroads School. The luncheon provided an opportunity in those early days for the church and school to together serve the larger community of needy people in downtown Santa Monica. To this day, a number of private and public schools are involved in this effort as well as the church community of St. A's. We typically feed some 300 or more people, down in Pierson Hall, a hot meal and host for them a Christmas Party with children's choirs and other musicians.

In honor of this milestone of a quarter of a century of service, I'd like to ask the church community − especially in this very difficult economic time − to help revive a custom begun by our former vocational deacon, Pat Hendrickson, of making a "gift baggie" for those who attend the meal. You can help by donating toiletries. Each gift baggie will contain toothpaste, toothbrush, a comb and a bar of soap. There will be bins in the entranceway of the church for four Sundays, beginning Nov. 29th. Please purchase toothpaste tubes that are small enough to fit in a large plastic bag (not the jumbo tubes). Travel sizes are just fine.

Additionally, if you'd like to donate new toys and/or books, they are welcome as well. It enables those who live on the streets to give a gift to their young relatives during the holidays.

For those who would like to volunteer to help serve, come anytime from 8-3. There especially is a need each year for a team to help clean up (take down the tables and chairs, mop the floors and clean the bathrooms as we prepare to receive guests upstairs in church as well for worship.