Wonderful staff/volunteers, providing services like mail, clothing, meals and prayers which are
1. Desperately Needed
2. Greatly Appreciated
3. Often Amazing Quality
The problem is that the psychopaths and criminals are actually encouraged to “perform” - they are almost never reprimanded until there is bloodshed — even with the PD a 5-minute walk away and, more recently, with a Security Guard (who literally does nothing but watch the gate to keep people out of the street).
It’s similar to a prison, probably, where the more wild and out-of-control and criminally insane they are, the more they’re rewarded and “loved” and treated as “special”. Allowed to block pathways and jump food lines, throw things, go behind the serving tables and touch all the fruit and water bottles with nasty hands and no mask on, for example, while the staff smiles, like they’ll have something fun to talk about or pray about when they go home.
Again, wild behavior is actually encouraged. Like they’re performing on a stage for their hosts’ entertainment. No question, even if drugged, they know exactly what they are doing. Definitely sexual battery and grabbing body parts and yelling and cursing and hitting strangers - while the meek ones cheer them and the staff watches with evident appreciation. I’ve seen a kid punched so hard - by a stranger - that his eyes crossed. It’s good food, but VERY HIGH RISK, especially during the Pandemic, with all the spitting, cursing, touching, flinging about, and fights. The only way to prevent assault is to violently defend yourself, and go to jail yourself!
I have volunteered at Mary's Kitchen for almost 3 years. During this time, I see an average of 175 hungry, homeless men, women and children congregate to take advantage of hot breakfast and lunch plus a take-away snack for dinner. It is gratifying to witness this many people socializing and taking advantage of all the supplementary services provided by Mary's Kitchen rather than wandering the streets. It is a great service. Congratulations to the City of Orange for supporting such a worthwhile organization.