It’s Christmas morning. Most of us will be spending time opening gifts and presents. Then we’ll visit with friends and relatives, eat our Christmas meal and then watch a football game. We look forward to the memories that will be made and remembered years from now. That’s what “most” of us will experience.
There are some in our community that don’t have the privilege of a home or the luxury of a hot meal to look forward to on Christmas Day or most any other day of the year. These people are largely forgotten by mainstream America as we go along our busy work days and travel to and fro on the bustling interstates and highways. They’re usually referred to as homeless and often treated as undesirables. Even though Christ commissioned the Church to see about the widows and the poor, a very poor job has been done.
Established in 2006, this is where the “Brighter Day Community Outreach Services, Inc.” (Brighter Day) and several other organizations, have tried to fill a void. “We just want to show them that they’re not forgotten, especially during this time of year,” states Elder Kenneth Johnson, founder and President of the organization. “It’s important to us that we do as much for our fellow man and woman as possible.”
Brighter Day, with the support and sponsorship of Dr. Daniel Cason’s “I Cared Enough” ministry provided a free, hot, catered lunch to over 200 people at Linn Park in downtown Birmingham on Christmas Day. Says Cason, who operates the Bread of Life Food Pantry on Graymont Avenue, along with his wife Gwendolyn, “We just want to help people. No one should go hungry ever.” The group chose to have a catered meal because they want to let people that may be down right now know that things can definitely get better.
Catering was provided by Another Level Catering. Owned and operated by Felecia Scott, everyone received a gracious helping of baked chicken, ham, dressing, green beans, macaroni and cheese, apple cobbler and a drink. Ms. Scott volunteered her services to serve the meals and brought her entire staff with her. There were people from every background in line to receive a meal; Black, white, young, old, male and female.
Other activities sponsored by Brighter Day include monthly visits to the Birmingham Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center, a Mother’s Day Banquet, meals for the homeless during major holidays and other community activities throughout the year. Brighter Day has recently become an extension of Daniel Cason ministries which provides free food, clothing, legal services, music for kids, GED preparation and also operates an accredited Bible college.
Says Johnson, there is a great need in our community and most of us seem to just ignore it. It’s not going to go away. We can make it better.”
For more information or if you would like to volunteer or make a donation, contact Kenneth Johnson at 205-767-1647 or by email at brighterday.usa@gmail.com.
“There is never a charge for the work we do because it is the Lord’s work that we do.”
