DEAN SENSUI / DSENSUI@STARBULLETIN.COM Daphne Momon helped her niece Courtney Carpenter, 3, cut her food yesterday while enjoying their Christmas meal at the River of Life Mission. About 300 meals were served at the Pauahi Street facility during the day.

Christmas spirit
lives at mission

Scores of volunteers provide
friendship and food to the homeless

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By Leila Fujimori
lfujimori@starbulletin.com

Some people came to the River of Life Mission for a hearty Christmas meal yesterday, but others were there for much more.

"You don't feel so lonely," said William Markey, a 53-year-old homeless man. "The volunteers extend a real warmth. They're genuinely nice people."

The mission's staff and three shifts of 30 volunteers each served up about 300 turkey and ham lunches with lots of holiday cheer yesterday.

Staff member Ronnie Lorenzo shared a moment with a man who was sitting alone.

"It's really the little things that count," she said. "They need us to be a friend," she said, adding that the guests include prostitutes, drug addicts, alcoholics and the mentally ill.

"We're here to make them feel special."

Freelance photographer Fred Kihara volunteers at least two weeks a month including Christmas.

"It teaches you about compassion, love and forming relationships," he said.

"I was afraid at first," wondering how to talk to someone homeless, Kihara said.

But since he began volunteering a year ago, Kihara learned people just want respect and someone to talk to.

Yesterday, Kihara wished guests merry Christmas by name, and they responded in kind.

"Doing the Lord's work really enriches you," he said. "I really enjoy it."

Amy Monahan, 28, who volunteered for the first time with her parents and three siblings, said the experience made her grateful for the opportunities she has.

"The people are great," she said. "They're really grateful."

While some asked for takeout plates, others sat at tables inside the mission at 101 N. Pauahi St.

Euphemia Tawney, 83, lives in Mayor Wright Housing but has attended the Christmas luncheons since the mission first opened 17 years ago "just for the fellowship.

"There's more love in the mission than from your own family, your own children," said the gray-haired woman.

"I love the street people," said Tawney, known affectionately as Auntie Lei, who shared holiday greetings with those passing by. "See how nice the homeless are."

Markey also got his spiritual needs filled yesterday, noting that the River of Life is primarily a ministry. The mission, however, does not require anyone who wants a meal to partake of the religious portion of the program.

Markey is a daily visitor to the mission where he is allowed to take a shower and eat a couple of meals a day.

"Even though things are more festive during the holidays, they're here 24-7, 365 days a year."