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For Immediate release: Monday, December 8, 2008
Contact: Susie Jennings (972.681.3567/214.315.6354) or Lisa Cooper (817.505.8548)
Operation Care Dallas Brings a Winter Wonderland to the Homeless on December 13 in Dallas! 2008
Thousands of homeless will be the guests of honor, and thousands of D/FW volunteers are preparing to make an historical impact.
DALLAS, Monday, December 8, 2008/Operation Care Dallas/ -- This Saturday, December 13, Operation Care Dallas will host the nation’s largest Christmas party for the homeless. From 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. (CST), thousands of homeless will be bused to the Dallas Convention Center from shelters around the D/FW Metroplex to be the guests of honor and receive free medical care, food, gifts, makeovers, haircuts, entertainment, and more. An entire section will also be devoted to children with Santa and Mrs. Claus, a petting zoo and pony rides, bounce houses, coats, shoes, and toys.
The Dallas Convention Center will be transformed into a winter wonderland with the theme of “Restoring Hope.” An annual tradition hosted by Operation Care Dallas, this year’s event will be the largest ever as thousands of homeless and underprivileged children will be transported by bus from Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Plano, Denton, and Irving.
“We are excitedly preparing to honor our homeless,” said Operation Care Dallas founder Susie Jennings. “Every year, we literally see lives change before our eyes as they realize that we value them, love them, and are here to give them hope through our Lord Jesus.”
The goal is to restore hope in the lives of the homeless and hopeless, re-unite them to their families, introduce them to available resources (job counseling, churches, shelters), and provide medical and legal assistance with the belief that this will lead them to a better quality of life. Additionally, Operation Care aims to share the spirit of Christmas with thousands of homeless men, women, and children regardless of race, color, or creed.
The Operation Care staff is expecting between 8,000 - 9,000 homeless men, women and children to arrive throughout the early morning hours this Saturday. Volunteers are coming from other states such as Kansas, Tennessee, California, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. There will be counselors available and Baylor University Medical Center, UT Southwestern, St. Paul, and Parkland Hospital staff will provide free health screenings. Volunteer doctors and nurses will also provide dental, vision, blood pressure, flu shots, and blood sugar check-ups to both prevent illness and provide answers to health care questions.
Each year, this event produces countless moving stories from the homeless that attend, and the images are unforgettable. Perhaps the most memorable of images will be the trademark of the Operation Care Dallas ministry when the volunteers will wash the feet of the homeless and fit them for new shoes.
Hundreds of local charities, churches, and businesses are providing volunteers and donating gifts and services to make this a life-changing event for the attendees. Youth groups and children’s clubs will also be entertaining from the stage, along with other distinguished local performers.
For more information and to see how you might get involved, visit www.OperationCareDallas.org.
Press members are invited to come and see the most touching story of the Christmas season!
Who: All homeless men, women, and children
What: Operation Care Christmas Gift 2008 -Nation's Largest Christmas Party for the Homeless
When: December 13, 2008 - 10:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M. (CST)
Where: Dallas Convention Center (650 S. Griffin St. Dallas, TX 75202)
Any questions, contact: Susie Jennings (972) 681-3567 or Lisa Cooper (817.505.8548)
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