Community news is full of Good Samaritan tales, especially during the holidays, but once in a while, we come across someone who really stands out.
Take Evelyn Florendo, for example. The Vancouver senior, widow and devout Catholic marked a major milestone this month: three decades of organizing Christmas dinner for the teens in Burnaby's youth prison.
Can you imagine?
For 30 years, she's gathered donations and corralled volunteers to put on a dinner with some of the most troubled teens in our province. The evening includes entertainment and gift bags for the kids, but what really stands out about Evelyn is the love she gives.
As the teens file out of the prison's gymnasium after dinner, she makes a point of hugging every last one of them and says, "I love you." The kids, who sometimes look a bit quizzical at first, always break out in a smile, and some say, "I love you, too."
Evelyn started the dinners 30 years ago after reading about incarcerated youth who were slashing themselves and committing suicide.
At the first dinner ever, there was a 12-year-old boy waiting patiently on the sidelines till Evelyn finished passing out gifts.
He then approached her to say that was the first time in his life that he had ever received a Christmas present. He was so happy, he thanked her and gave her a hug.
Some of you readers may be thinking: "These are not innocent youth. They are criminals and shouldn't be coddled."
But these kids are young and still in those formative years where their lives could take any number of directions. And when someone like Evelyn comes along with no judgments and unconditional love, that can only help set the path a little straighter.
This Christmas, don't be stingy with love, dear readers, it's the best gift you can give.
