HUNGRY TO HELP PALMDALE STEAKHOUSE OPENS DOORS ON CHRISTMAS TO FEED HOMELESS, OTHERS WITHOUT A PLACE TO GO.Byline: GIDEON RUBIN Special to the Daily News PALMDALE -- Jennifer Nelson said she was a little fuzzy Little Fuzzy is the name of a 1962 science fiction novel by H. Beam Piper. It is generally seen as a work of juvenile fiction. It was nominated for the 1963 Hugo Award for Best Novel. on exactly when the tradition began. But she is quite specific about why she and her husband, Brett, opened the doors of Steer 'n Stein Stein , William Howard 1911-1980. American biochemist. He shared a 1972 Nobel Prize for pioneering studies of ribonuclease. , a popular east Palmdale steakhouse they own, to the poor, homeless or anyone who has nowhere else to go on Christmas. Nelson's best guess is that the tradition began about 10 or 11 years ago. She said she got the idea when her husband suggested opening the restaurant on Christmas Day, noting she ``conned'' him into making it a charity event. ``It just seems like the right thing to do,'' Nelson said. ``We always spend so much time complaining about how things aren't perfect in our lives, and this is a reality check. ``What's really great is my kids so look forward to this now.'' The restaurant distributed Christmas Day meal vouchers to several local charities, although anyone who entered the restaurant was given a free meal, Nelson said, ``no questions asked.'' Additionally, delivery of meals to those living in shelters is arranged. The restaurant contributed about 400 meals. ``What a blessing to give to the ones who need something delicious to eat on Christmas,'' Palmdale resident Cece Arrieta said. The special event featured a small army of recruits that included longtime long·time adj. Having existed or persisted for a long time: a longtime friend; a longtime resident of Detroit. longtime Adjective employees Pat Hadsell and Cheryl Hutnick. The Nelson's children -- Brett, 10; Sarah, 9; Zachary, 7; and Tyler, 5 -- greeted and served customers in what has become part of the tradition, too. Hadsell's daughters, Alexandria and Jozette Salmon, who are 16 and 9, and Hutnick's 16-year-old daughter, Megan, and son, Tony, 11, also helped. Family friends helped prepare meals and deliver them to area shelters. ``Every year I wonder if we're going to have enough help, and every year people come through the doors and help,'' Nelson said. In addition to the meals, wrapped gifts were given to children. ``This is wonderful,'' said Thelma Holley, a 97-year-old lifelong Palmdale resident who once owned a coffee shop at the Palmdale Greyhound greyhound, breed of tall, swift, sight hound developed nearly 5,000 years ago in Egypt. It stands about 26 in. (66 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs about 65 lb (29.5 kg). bus station. The circumstances of those at Monday's meal drive varied. Steve and Sue Schubert, a Palmdale couple, were just looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. an open eatery when they noticed the crowded parking lot in front of Steer 'n Stein. George Niles, a Palmdale man who said he lost his home to a fire earlier this year, said the food drive gave him a chance to gather with friends. ``It raises everyone's morale; it feeds our spirits,'' said Dan Donegan Dan Donegan (born August 1, 1968 in Oak Lawn, Illinois) is an American musician and guitarist for rock band Disturbed. Donegan began playing guitar as a teenager and eventually formed a band called Vandal, which was an '80s-style hair band. , a Llano lla·no n. pl. lla·nos A large, grassy, almost treeless plain, especially one in Latin America. [Spanish, plain, from Latin pl man who lives on his brother's property. Hadsell said it's important for her children to see that holidays are an especially difficult time for those who live amid impoverished im·pov·er·ished adj. 1. Reduced to poverty; poverty-stricken. See Synonyms at poor. 2. Deprived of natural richness or strength; limited or depleted: circumstances. She said her children have embraced the concept of helping others as an integral aspect of the holiday season. ``They're asking me all year, especially my youngest: `Are we going? Are we going?''' Hadsell said. ``What's important is that she knows the value of giving. A lot of kids don't understand that concept, and, being a single parent, it's hard to instill in·still v. To pour in drop by drop. in  stil·la tion n. everything in them and watch them and
make sure they're doing everything right.''
Nelson said the Christmas meal drive has grown each year, and she said the restaurant plans to keep the tradition going. ``We're so very blessed, and it's just my way of reminding my kids of just how blessed we are. I want them to be reminded of how fortunate they are, and they don't take things for granted.'' gideon.rubin@dailynews.com (661) 267-7802 CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Steer 'n Stein owner Brett Nelson, left, and volunteer Todd Wienke of Lancaster fix plates with all the goodies good·y 1 Informal interj. Used to express delight. n. also good·ie pl. good·ies Something attractive or delectable, especially something sweet to eat. at the Palmdale steakhouse's annual Christmas Day holiday meal for the needy need·y adj. need·i·er, need·i·est 1. Being in need; impoverished. See Synonyms at poor. 2. Wanting or needing affection, attention, or reassurance, especially to an excessive degree. on Monday. Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion