Back to the Table

Tonight I returned to my favorite place to be on Thanksgiving Eve, the table of toothbrushes.


Last year the Westside Thanksgiving served over 2,500 people. In addition to a hearty Thanksgiving meal, guests receive immunizations, clothing, shoes, hygiene kits, haircuts, games, live entertainment, and basic medical consultation. 


Tomorrow, they will do it all over again.


Hundreds of volunteers gathered tonight at the Santa Monica Civic Center in preparation for the Thanksgiving celebration. My favorite place: the table of toothbrushes. As a part of the hygiene kit human assembly line, I stand at the table of toothbrushes and pass out toothbrushes to the individuals compiling the kits. As they pass me they go on to collect soap, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste, socks, and washcloths. And, person by person, I hear snippits of inspiration, one toothbrush at a time.


Tonight, we started with instructions. The kind woman who organizes the hygiene kit supply collection and compilation gathered the group and said a number of important things. She reminded us all:

• The goal is not to go through the line as quickly as possible and stuff them as much as you can. The goal of tonight is to make a bag with care for each guest tomorrow. 
• We aren't trying to stuff them with all the "good stuff," we're trying to make as many hygiene kits as possible. Take 1 big toothpaste or two small toothpastes, one big bar of soap or two small bars of soap. 
• Make them fair. 
• We want everyone to leave tomorrow with a kit that will be meaningful to them.

With that, hygiene kit assembly commenced.


As I handed out toothbrush by toothbrush, I smiled, I was thankful, I was inspired.

• A majority of participants tonight were local high school students. Hundreds of high schoolers took the time to come with friends to make hygiene kits for tomorrow's guests. 
• A group of elementary school girls circled the assembly line multiple times. Every time they got a toothbrush they were in awe... "That's such a cute toothbrush" they said with smiles on their faces, "they are lucky to get those!" thinking of other kids who might be so lucky to get such cool toothbrushes tomorrow.
• A woman who I'd established an agreement with... every time she came by, she'd receive at least 2+ toothbrushes per bag. About halfway through the hygiene kit assembly it was evident that there were far more toothbrushes than other supplies. We both acknowledged this fact and started putting more toothbrushes in her bags. "Put more toothbrushes in," she said, "they're important." Every time she passed by she'd say, "back for those toothbrushes" and would receive as many as she asked for. Tomorrow at least half the bags with multiple toothbrushes thanks to her. They are important.

Tomorrow, over 2,000 guests will sit at a table, be a valued part of the community, and celebrate Thanksgiving. We have a lot to be thankful for.

Toothpaste donated from schools and community members

And soap!

Messages for tomorrow's guests.

And encouragement from a child. 

With this, my friends, I am humbled to celebrate a full 365 Days of Service. Exactly a year ago I started off with a goal of blogging an act of kindness, service, highlighting an organization or a person who is doing good for every single day of the year. Now, a year later, mission accomplished. There is a post for each of the past 365 days.

Many thanks to everyone who has encouraged, supported, celebrated this effort along the way. Thanks to everyone who sent in stories of service - my mother, sister, father, uncle, cousin, teacher, friend, after friend, after friend, after friend who shared the good going on in this world. 

I've been inspired by each organization, each individual, and every story. And, most of all, I've learned that if you look for service, you will see it around you every single day. It can be as simple as a Snuggie or as strong as standing up for a survivor. It can be something huge someone does around the world or it can be in your neighborhood or in your good thoughts. You can help save the planet or sing. Use your passion to make a difference.

If you look for it, if you listen for it, service is all around you.

Most of all, the greatest form of service is being kind to one another. If we are all good to our neighbor, good to a stranger, and treat everyone with care, this kindness - and service - happens everyday, everywhere. 

And service will continue! While 365 Days of Service will not post every day, we still celebrate service all around us. Please continue to see service around you, send in stories, and 365 will post acts of kindness and service to share. 

Go, serve!