My Friend Brenda

by Dan Stoner

As Ray and I came down the street to “Brenda’s” corner and I saw all the flowers on the sidewalk I knew instantly what had happened. My friend Brenda had died. I tried to avoid thinking about it as we set up to feed the people on 5^th and Crocker but my heart was heavy. Information from the street on exactly what happened was scarce. So ended the life of my friend Brenda. Her impact on my heart will be with me forever. Later that evening I set up a few pictures I had of her with Ray and I along with some candles, a memorial to Brenda. At that moment the emotion hit like a ton of bricks and I cried for the first time, but not the last. How God has changed me in the last few years going Downtown.

The first time I met Brenda was on her corner. Ray stopped the truck and all 3’10” of her walked over. Ray opened the door and she leaned in the truck and looked up at me her head barely at the bottom of the steering wheel and taught me new ways to use swear words. From that initial meet a friendship developed that was very unique. Each week we would stop on her corner on our way out of Skid Row. I would bring her things each week and talk with her for awhile. We would always end with a hug and I would tell her I loved her. The smile on her face when she saw me walking up to her was heartwarming. Of course the teasing started on the street about my woman and the “Odd Couple”. I guess I talked about her a lot when I would get home. My family became involved asking how she was and helping me shop for her each week. My wife and daughter met her and she was most gracious. One morning in late 2003 I got the newspaper and found a pictorial on Skid Row. To my surprise Brenda was pictured prominently. I ran upstairs and woke up my wife to show her I was so excited. Ray went Downtown and had Brenda write a note to me on the picture from the newspaper. He had it framed and left it in the seat of the truck on Saturday for my Christmas gift. I was deeply touched by the greatest gift I have ever received and I will cherish it forever.

I must admit when I first saw Brenda I was taken back by her appearance. I had never seen someone who was such a mess. It would have been easy for the story to end there but that was not God’s plan. After awhile I never     noticed her physical exterior. All I saw was my friend Brenda.

Brenda opened my heart in a way I would not have thought possible. God put her in my life at the very beginning of my journeys to Skid Row as    preparation for all that has followed. Brenda and I came from very different backgrounds and life experiences. Our paths came together in the destitution of Skid Row. Yet in spite of the venue or maybe because of it the lessons of compassion, unselfishness, friendship and love were taught.

Ray's Words on Comedy Night

Frontline Foundation presents a comedy night at the historic Hollywood Palladium known world wide for the talent that has passed throughout the hallowed ballroom for the passed sixty-five years -

Frank Sinatra - Benny    Goodman - Artie Shaw - Tommy Dorsey - Harry James – U2 - Etc. Etc. Etc.- Echo their brilliance - in the still of the night – when the site is empty - The nostalgic Palladium stands tall among venues past and    present - It will forever be "The Place" The Hollywood Palladium –

Frontline is honored and privileged to present our fundraiser – Sunday - August 7^th 2005 – 6215 Sunset Blvd. Starting at 6:00 PM – With a - Silent Auction – Complimentary Wine and Hors d’oeuvres – at 7:30 the Comedy Show will begin – Ending at 9:30 – There will be a Reserve Seating section – Eight people per table @ $80 per person –   General seating  @ $55 per person – Cabaret setting – The recipients of the event are the people of the streets in    downtown Los Angeles – Over 815,000 meals have been served to the destitute in this area known as Skid Row – A true miracle – Thank you so very much for your            participation -  

We could really use some help getting some silent auction prizes. If you've got any      ideas about who we can ask, I’d like your help, especially if you frequent a place. Please contact Noreen at (818)780-1995.  All it usually takes is asking, sending a letter and making a follow up phone call. 

Frontline Crumbs: 

Comedy Night at The   Palladium is now taking reservations—see insert

 We are in need of canned light chunk tuna in water. Consider holding a food drive at school or work.

 We’re half way through with all of the Halloween Candy. Can you believe we got enough candy at  Halloween to give away with 50,000 meals?

SPECIAL THANKS

I would like to thank Dick Beamish – Alan Meyer – Doug White – Prentiss Carnell – Pat Crowe – Dick Hoyt – Bill Rees – Heath Twichell – Duncan MacAffer – Irwin Smith – Linda Carnell – George Arakelian – From the Albany Academy that have supported my quest for easing hunger on Skid Row down town Los Angeles – for so many years -

 Portia & Don & Ceciliana Puswella honor their loved ones periodically by preparing trays of fried chicken and  noodles to serve to those      downtown. Thank you for your thoughtfulness.

 Thank you to Cathy Tranquilli and Gina Hayden for coming to our kitchen each week to make our homemade cookies. They are loved downtown.

 Jesse Chavez, Ruth Neal, Fred Rabban , Jim Tenner and Kip Billups are five amazing    people who come in on     Saturday mornings to help in the kitchen. Orchestrated by our early morning kitchen manager, Dave Hansen, these volunteers  pack pasta salad, wrap sandwiches, fill the van with gas, wrap hot dogs  and even sweep the front driveway. Thank you all for your tremendous contributions to Frontline.

 Doug Gibbons does our weekly shopping at Smart and Final which saves Ray a lot of time and conserves his energy for shopping at Costco! Thank you Doug for always helping in ways we don’t even realize we need help in!

 Special Thanks to Joe Hutshing, Eric & Raduca   Kaplan, Jack and Pat Droege, for your continued love and support of Frontline and those downtown.

Frontline’s

“Candles That Care”

Line has Increased!

Thanks to our anonymous candle donor two new scents have been added: French Pear, a rich  off white colored candle and White Birch, deep white.  Both candles have a beveled top edge and have a thick and luxurious color.  They are both available in votive sizes, 3x3 pillar and 3x6 pillar.

If you haven't already done so, view our website where you can see all of the candle and their colors.  So many have ordered already, especially the gift boxes that are shipped to whomever you wish with a personalized card.

I often wonder if people think these are second hand candles or imperfect or unsaleable ones. These are absolutely first rate American made candles that are manufactured Please visit us online to see al them!

•Available in 3x3, 3x6, votive and 1 of each scent in gift Box:

Lavendar    Vanilla Ylang Ylang   Mango      Cinnamon Sandalwood

Eucalyptus   Patchouli  Jasmine Neroli Grapefruit   Melange

New Scents 3x3,3x6, votive: (not in 8 candle gift box)

French Pear White Birch

Specialty Items:

Apple Pear 3x3 only     Pumpkin Spice 3x6 only    All Spice Orange Nutmeg 3x6

Other Items:

DREAMWORKS HELPS FRONTLINE

POPULAR MEALS DOWNTOWN

Many want to know what  exactly we serve downtown. During any given week our 700 meals consist of a variety of foods, all of which are prepared fresh, with no left overs or second hands going to the people downtown. The hot meals are prepared by our Frontline chef, Craig Randell, who makes 10-12 full trays each Friday for our Saturday serving.

Some of the items we regularly serve include:

Tuna/Egg/Bologna & cheese   sandwiches

Soup         Ravioli     Spaghetti and Meatballs    Peanut butter & jelly

Hot Dogs    Chicken cacciatore    Corned Beef & Cabbage

Burritos   Chili Mac

Honoring a Memory

There are many people who give a donation each month in memory of someone who has passed on. In some cases the person that passed was   involved with Frontline and sometimes not. The givers contribute through either the Frontline 80 or through the Three Dollar Club.  The memory of these people is prolonged through the sustenance of those on Skid Row.  Thank you to the following people who give in memory of someone special:

Chandra Block in Memory of Edwin Block

Chandra Block In Memory of Jayaseeli and Wilson

Dana Lee Drum in Memory of Lee Ann Schwartz

Gertrude Price in Memory of Billy Ambro

Noreen Castellani in Memory of Louie Goldner

Noreen Castellani in Memory of Danny Mustard

Nethri Blok in Memory of Edwin Blok

Paul & Penny Armbruster in Memory of Leo

Tiffani Milstead in Memory of Jennifer Twohy

Will & Pat Ordelheide in Memory of Mae Calleran

Paul Armbruster in Memory of Addie James