A tradition of giving EASTER SUNDAY: Father Chase hands out thousands of dollars to L.A. homeless.

Byline: Rick Orlov, Staff Writer

For 24 years, Father Maurice Chase has handed out hundreds of thousands of dollars to the poorest of the poor, blessing some with $100 and $20 dollar bills, and singles to thousands of others.

"The Lord tells me who needs it most," Chase said Sunday, as he prepared for his annual Easter giving to the hundreds who lined up on Skid Row, outside the Salvation Army in 5th Street. Some waited as long as two hours in line for the chance to receive something to help them through the day.

Lynelle Bridges, who has lived on Skid Row for three years, said the money - even if it is only $1 - is something she didn't have yesterday.

"A dollar is a dollar," she said. "It doesn't go far, but it helps."

Chase was helped by many as he handed out the money.

Volunteers Henry Irving gave out blue tickets to all those in line to keep track of those receiving money as Jim Thomas passed out rosaries to those who asked for them.

"It is a lot worse this year," Irving said of the line, where more than 100 people, many in wheelchairs, waited.

"There are more people waiting in lines than ever before."

For Lynn Poindexter, who is confined to a wheelchair and suffers from multiple diseases, the $100 bill she received "means all the world to me."

She ended up on Skid Row after a number of personal tragedies affected her family.

"I just lost everything," Poindexter said. "The love of my life, my house. My daughter and granddaughter just disappeared and I ended up here."

With the money, Poindexter said she planned to buy food. "This just helps so much," she said as she held on to Chase's hand in appreciation.

Because of the hard times, Chase said he has increased what he hands out from $1 to $2 or $3 a person.

"A dollar doesn't go that far these days," Chase said.

The money he gives out is from donations to his Skid Row Charities and has been supported over the years by Dolores Hope, Barbara Sinatra and Eli Broad, Chase said.

"They have been very generous over the years," Chase said.

This year, he received an additional $40,000 for his charity. It came from a $20,000 donation from a woman who died and made the bequest to the charity. Turns out, she was a maid to a Beverly Hills couple, whom he would not identify and who matched her bequest.

Chase, wearing a bright red sweater and a Notre Dame baseball cap, comes to Skid Row every Sunday to preach and work among the poor.

"I met Mother Teresa years ago and we talked and she told me, "Touch the poor,"' Chase said. "And, every Sunday, I touch the poor."

As he handed out the money on Sunday, Chase touched the head of each person and said a blessing over them.

Chase said that as bad as life always is on Skid Row, this year seems to be even worse.

"We see more couples, more families," Chase said. "The recession has had an impact. We have to deal with it. The church said we must have a preferential option for the poor."

And, Chase said he does not get frustrated that it seems like he and Skid Row only gets the public's attention during holidays.

"No, no. I come down here every Sunday," he said. "People do care and there are a lot of people working down here every day doing more than I am."

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2 photos

Photo:

(1) Bill Antisdel, Jr., 75, holds a $100 bill given to him by Father Maurice Chase outside of the Salvation Army Mission in downtown Los Angeles on Easter Sunday. Father Chase gave $15,000 to the homeless on Skid Row.

(2) In his tattered red sweater, Father Maurice Chase blesses a man after giving him a $100 bill.

David Crane/Staff Photographer