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Biola students partnered with Union Rescue Mission to bring Thanksgiving a few days early on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011, serving up a traditional Turkey dinner for about 5,000 homeless in Los Angeles’ Skid Row. Biola students also donated hygiene products and helped wash the feet of the homeless in attendance.

Biola’s student-run PR agency, 6th Street PR, organized student involvement for the event and presented the idea of feet washing to URM. Junior Abbey Bennett, account executive with 6th Street PR, helped organize the day.

“I was blessed to spend the day at the Union Rescue Mission,” said Bennett. “The people, though they have so little, are some of the most joyful and hopeful people I have ever seen.”

More than 500 turkeys were served on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hundreds of volunteers served the meal, served pie on the roof (donated by Pie in the Sky), washed feet and handed out donated hygiene supplies and shoes.

“From the woman painting her nails sitting on the sidewalk to the man rolling around in his wheelchair singing Christmas carols, the people of Skid Row know what it means to live in the moment,” Bennett said. “I definitely have much to learn from their joyful contentment.”

Watch an ABC 7 story on the event, “L.A. Mission Serves Early Thanksgiving Feast.” (http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=8438381&rss=rss-kabc-article-8438381)

Written by Jenna Bartlo, Media Relations Coordinator. Jenna can be reached at 562.777.4061 or jenna.l.bartlo@biola.edu.