First Baptist Dallas

On Saturday, December 19, more than 3,000 volunteers—including many First Baptist Dallas members—served, entertained and loved on close to 15,000 of Dallas’ homeless at the Operation Care Christmas party.

Members of First Dallas’ Rejoice! Sunday School Class were among those who set up on Friday night and arrived at the Dallas Convention Center as early as 6am to begin registration for the homeless, some of whom arrived at dawn.

“The highlight for me was seeing the transformation from when they were outside registering…compared to their reaction after going through the inside,” Rejoice! Class member and volunteer Marie Reed said. “Many of them came back to me afterwards with their big bags of free personal items—new shoes, coats, sleeping bags, clothes—just to tell me thank you and how blessed they were to be a part of the event.”

For the first-time, Operation Care also honored homeless veterans.

“Veterans were allowed to enter first and there was an amazing sword line for them to walk under while being saluted that was very moving,” Reed said. “All of the homeless veterans very extremely touched and many had tears in their eyes. It gave them back that feeling of honor and respect.”

The high school choir and orchestra of First Dallas also helped make Operation Care special for guests, providing entertainment for the crowd.

In addition a hot meal, volunteers treated homeless guests items such as blankets, sleeping bags, coats, shoes, personal care items, gifts, makeovers, and haircuts. Additionally, resources such as job
counseling, housing, medical and legal assistance were also available.

When volunteers such as Marie Reed look back on the event, it’s not the crowd they remember but the individuals.

Reed recalls a specific man who touched her heart: “He hugged me and just began to cry and kept saying ‘Thank You’ and ‘God Bless You’ over and over again. As he walked away, he shook every volunteer’s hand he could find and thanked them as well. What a blessing to be part of making someone with nothing so happy.”

For more information about Operation Care Dallas, founded by First Dallas member Susie Jennings, and its ministry to the city’s homeless, visit www.operationcaredallas.org.