One Person Can Make A Difference

Harlingen, Texas, December 5, 2009:  Many of us are reluctant to attempt solving complex matters because we feel that the efforts of one person can’t add up to much improvement.  Had that been Dean Hall’s attitude, Loaves and Fishes of the Rio Grande Valley would still be an organization struggling to feed a few hundred homeless people.  Instead, because of his vision and leadership this feeding program established by the local Ministerial Alliance is now an extremely effective nationally recognized non-profit corporation.  It is also a state-of-the art social services organization that provides one-stop services to those people who find themselves in need of a helping hand.

Hall, who took over the leadership of Loaves and Fishes five years ago, is stepping down as the organization’s Executive Director this month.  He will leave behind a one square block structure that contains sleeping accommodations for men, women and children.  It provides a feeding program seven days a week, job training, GED study development, a Training Center that offers lesions in Microsoft programs, family budgeting, and homebuyer training.  The L&F organization provides a job placement service and a 12-step program for those in need of such assistance.  There is a food pantry that each month gives food by the bag to families with empty refrigerators and L&F has recently entered into a new program to provide weatherization assistance to those people who need their homes reinforced against winter cold and rain.  It is the headquarters for the administrative offices of The Family Crisis Center, which assures the safety and protection of abused individuals. The heart of the operation is still to provide food and shelter for those in need. 

When Dean Hall assumed the position of Executive Director in March of 2005 the kitchen was serving 69,160 meals a year to the homeless and poor.  Under Hall’s direction that figure has reached six digits.  Today an estimated 112,000 meals are being offered annually.  In 2005 just over 6200 bed nights of shelter were being provided to the homeless.  Today that number has grown to 10, 600 bed nights being offered during the year to those who have no other place to sleep.

Homeless prevention has become a very important program at Loaves and Fishes.  The Vera Naumann Family Assistance organization is under the L&F umbrella and it has grown from providing rent assistance to 15 families in 2005 to assisting 100 families today.  Utility assistance has grown slightly over the past five years.  153 families were helped in 2005 and this year 170 families received assistance.

There has been an explosion of need seen at the food pantry.  Five years ago 63 bags of food were given to those needing additional help with their groceries. This year 4,075 food bags have been given out to those seeking a helping hand.

In recent months homeless prevention services have emerged as a very important service.  For the first time, Loaves and Fishes has weatherized the houses of 160 homeowners and repaired another 60 homes to make all of them more habitable throughout the winter.

Dean Hall came to Loaves and Fishes with no experience in operating a non-profit organization.  He was familiar with its work, having served on the Board of Directors for three years, but all of his experience had been in the business community.  He relocated to Harlingen, Texas in 1998 to assume the position of General Manager to a plastics plant.  Upon his retirement from that office he was asked to become the Loaves and Fishes Executive Director.

One of his first acts was to start providing meals to the residents of the Family Crisis Center.  Next he moved the Board into taking over a homeless shelter operation of a faltering ministry.  In 2006 Hall led the L&F non-profit into accepting the management of the Vera Naumann Family Emergency Assistance service and he started raising money to move all the services to a single location. 

In 2007 he had everything in place.  Renovation and construction was stated on a block square facility in Harlingen.  By year’s end that construction had been completed.  The next year Hall arranged to provide meals to the La Posada Providencia Shelter in the neighboring city of San Benito.  Loaves and Fishes took over the operation of the First Baptist Church Food Pantry and incorporated it into the services of the organization.  The non-profit also started working with Rio Grande Valley church groups and the Meadows Foundation to repair homes damaged by Hurricane Dolly.

In his final year as Executive Director, Hall arranged to partner with American Electric Power (AEP) to start a home weatherization program in the Rio Grande Valley.  This area of South Texas, in addition to being seriously damaged by Hurricane Dolly, is one of the most economically depressed regions of the country.

Hall also launched a homeless prevention and rapid re-housing program to try slowing the rate of homelessness in the area with temporary assistance in utility payments and rents.

It should also be noted that Loaves and Fishes operated on an annual budget of $334,479 when Hall became its CEO. Funding for the various programs comes from individual gifts, church donations and grants.  Today that budget is $1,482,039 and L&F will end the year with a surplus.

The one theme Dean Hall has tried to imprint into all of the Loaves and Fishes services is to offer a hand up and not a handout.  Wherever possible he has built work and self-advancement into everything offered by this Faith based organization.

Many are asking what Dean Hall will do with himself now that he is facing retirement for the second time.  They seem to forget he is always a busy man.  Hewill take over the reins as President of the more than 100 member Harlingen Rotary Club next year…and he is already serving as the Mayor of the town of Palm Valley.

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In Asia There is the Spirit of Christmas - No Atheist Hate or ACLU Litigation

Harlingen, Texas, December 2, 2009:  The month of December has arrived and with it comes the annual attacks on Christmas by the atheist movement and their legal/political arm, the ACLU.  For some reason, the Nativity, songs of joy and the celebration of the Christ Child’s birth bring out the rage and open hatred of many people across the United States. 

Having experienced Christmas in other lands, the dialog and political correctness experienced in this country is even more puzzling.  How can anyone be against any expression of peace and joy?  For those of us who celebrate this time of peace on earth and good well to all men these attacks on Christmas are baffling. For some of us these attacks are very hurtful.  If you want to escape all of that, perhaps you should spend the holiday where none of this exists…Asia.

Christmas in the Philippines is a wondrous time.  Admittedly it claims the largest Christian population in Asia, with 80% of the people listed as Catholic.  Still, the remaining 20% seem to rejoice in their extended holiday season.  It is a mixture of western and native Filipino traditions.

To the casual spectator, it appears as if the entire population attends religious services on Christmas Eve and again on Christmas day.  There are Christian themed events, Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Christmas trees. There is the ‘pah-role’, a long bamboo pole with lighted star lantern on its top.  It represents the star that guided the Wise Men to the manger and is the most popular decoration in the country.  This is also the land where Christmas carols on the radio, TV and in most stores starts playing in September.

In Thailand, the majority of the population is Buddhist and Christmas is not an official holiday.  However, it is still a season of great celebration practiced across the country.  There is singing, dancing and the playing of Christmas games.  There are public and private Christmas parties. 

In Bangkok there is a huge display of glowing lights and the city is covered with Christmas decorations. Many of them are reflective of the Christ Child’s birth.  Christmas trees abound and carols are played in the shops and shopping malls.  On Christmas day everyone dresses up as Christmas characters.  Admittedly, Santa Claus is their favorite.  Along roadways are found colorful lights and decorated Christmas trees.

Vietnam is officially a Communist country, but Christmas is a huge event.
Christians attend a midnight mass and then return home for a feast.
Depending upon the financial position of the family, that dinner will range from roast turkey down to chicken soup. 

The yuletide spirit of giving is in full bloom.  Gifts are exchanged across the country, regardless of religious belief.  Even the Communist government has declared that Christmas in Vietnam is a major holiday and national event.

On the Korean peninsula the celebration of Christmas dates back more than 300 years.  Though only 30 percent of the population is Christian, the entire country of South Korea celebrates the birth of Christ.  The government has made Christmas a paid holiday.  As in other countries there are festive decorations, parties and special events.  There is gift giving on a large scale and Christmas religious services are heavily attended.  Red, green and blue lights decorate the cities.  Traditional Christmas music is played in businesses, shops and malls.  However, you do not hear lyrics.  Almost all of the music played is instrumental.  In South Korea, Christmas is also a time for large family reunions and well as high school and college group gatherings.  Sadly, in North Korea no joy is seen or heard.

Not to be forgotten is China.  Religious persecution has been periodically reported since the start of the Communist takeover of the country.  Today, however, there seems to be a greater acceptance of those who profess the Faith.

Officially, only about 2% of China’s 1.3 billion populations are Christian.
Christmas is not an official holiday.  But, it is a highly popular time of the year and a huge commercial holiday.  From the smallest shop to the largest business, a traveler will find every type of Christmas decoration.  Every clerk seems to be wearing a Santa hat and Christmas trees are everywhere.  The large international hotels always feature western style holiday meals. Christian homes are brightly decorated with lights and traditional symbols of Christ’s birth.  Gift giving is not wide spread, but gifts of money seem to be the standard practice in China.  One of the unique customs for young people is to run around and spray each other with cans of compressed fake snow.

One of the most significant versions of the Christmas celebration takes place in Japan.  This is a country where only one half of one percent of the people are Christian, yet the entire country sparkles with the spirit of Christmas.  The Japanese are understanding and accepting of all religious faiths.  They are also great lovers of just about any type of festival. High on their list of important events is the celebration of Christmas. 

The family celebration is highlighted with the eating of a ‘Christmas Cake’, which is always purchased by the father. He always buys the cake on Christmas Eve and it is eaten just as soon as he gets home.  Since the arrival of Kentucky Fried Chicken in the late 60s, the Christmas Chicken Dinner has become very popular.  In fact, it is so much in demand that many Japanese make restaurant dining reservations way in advance of the holiday.  At the KFC, people stand in long lines to pick up their orders. 

During this season television always features a variety of dramas dealing with miracles.  It is also known to be a romantic time for young people in love.  Christmas decorations are everywhere.  Carols are played on radio, television and in almost every store or mall. 

Gifts are always exchanged between family, relatives and close friends.  There are also gifts presented to employers, teachers, doctors, and those who have done a person important favors.  These gifts tend to be items, which can be easily checked as to cost.  This is due to the Japanese custom of ‘on’ or ‘giri’, which requires the person receiving a gift to respond with a gift of equal value. 

Lights, decorations and music usually start in October across Japan and continue up until the New Year.  Much of the music played features the hymns of popular American artists.

Across Asia there seems to be no concern about the problems of “church and state”.  In fact, in most of the Asian countries the season is awaited in anticipation of the wonderful feelings Christmas holidays can bring to all.  This would not be possible in America today, if the hate mongers could have their way.  If they prevailed we might all need to visit Asia to celebrate the birth of our Lord.

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