Frontliners from all over Los Angeles came by our Open House in June to see our new kitchen. While the bulk of building the kitchen was done in January and February, so much still had to be finished. By mid May founder Ray Castellani thought that perhaps it was finally ready to be introduced to donors and supporters.

Thanks to Don Potts at Hollywood Tent Works, Frontline used 4 large outdoor tents in the parking lot in front of the kitchen. Visitors had a chance to see the kitchen, and then dine out under the tents. Thanks to the Beverly Glen Deli for a tremendous deli platter. Also thanks to Maria’s Italian Kitchen for pasta, El Torito for enchiladas, and Gaterie for deserts. Wood Ranch also donated some fries.

Supporters are always welcome to come by the new kitchen and see what they’re supporting. And to find out how we support the kitchen, read on page two about the Frontline 80.

Writing this newsletter has been a laborious process. Usually I love writing the newsletter and have a lot to say. But this time my heart is ever so heavy. It’s numb yet it aches. And it’s filled with sorrow. Our beautiful German Shepherd Priscilla Jane died recently. Most of you know of her battle with cancer. Did she win it? Yes, I think she did. She had only been given an average of 8 months and she lived 15. She had such a passion for life, she fought so hard, had such courage and such dignity - not only while being sick, but her whole life. She was so tolerant of the pills and of all my schemes to cure her. I’m sure many of you will remember when we got her. It was in 1992 and we were so proud to have her that we put her picture on the cover of this same newsletter, Frontline Today. We told all of you she was the Frontline mascot.

This is why it’s been so hard to write an article. It seems so little has any meaning - the only thing that really seems to matter is love. That’s it - Love. The only thing that matters. Anything that doesn’t come under that category has been rendered useless of my time and my heart. Interestingly though, that’s what Frontline is. It’s all about love. It may be in a brown bag. It may be served hot on a plate. It’s all love though. It’s like with my dog. My heart only knows it loves her. It doesn’t know she’s a dog and not a human. It’s just love.

It’s been hard to find words to write or speak. The article I had written during the midst of Priscilla’s death was so cold. It was so meaningless. It was about successes and how so many organizations can claim successes. Frontline’s success rate is hard to measure. Yes, we’ve served over 687,000 meals. That’s the only measurable element we have. Hugs, compassion, conversation, time spent, empathy and sympathy all can’t be measured. My article concluded that while we do all of this, we still cannot tout our successes because by society’s standards we don’t have any.

But I guess if realizing that love is the only thing that matters to me anymore, on a personal level, I would have to conclude that Frontline would fall into the category of useful and worthy of my heart and time. I know I’m not alone in this thought, because there are thousands of you out there who find so much value and worth in the entity of Frontline. Although Frontline and all of you and all of the people downtown have such meaning and value, I just couldn’t find the words for a meaningful article.

Special Thanks

Thank you to the hundreds of people who contribute financially to Frontline. As our donors, you literally make what it possible for us to bring food and love downtown. Thank you doesn’t even seem adequate..

The first face that everyone sees when they come to Frontline early Saturday mornings is Ron Swart. Up before the birds (and roosters) Ron gets to the kitchen Saturdays at 4:45 am to get things rolling, or should we say cooking. He supervises the soups, hot dogs and casseroles as well as helps manage the whole operation. And, he’s one of the last faces you see when you leave as he and Richard Gayler, Dave Hansen, Cheryl Martin, Dana Guerin, Scott Yagemann, Cheri Mankin, Karina Menshikora, Heena Sudra, Neili Sutker and Alfie Gil close up the place. Special thanks to Ron for all the energy and love he gives in the kitchen.

When Ray Castellani called up The Edlund Company in Burlington, Vermont, he knew once again he would get great service. But he had no idea Jamie Ballowe would arrange to have his most every need met. The love and support received form Edlund exceeded our hopes . Thank you all so much for your generosity.

And, of course, our ongoing thanks to Bob and Andy Jacobson at California Fresh Foods in Northridge. The food they donate each week is responsible for serving 200 people every Saturday. Make sure you visit them in the Northridge Mall!

Hi there! While I write most all of the newsletter, I wanted specifically for all readers to know that I, Noreen Castellani, am writing this article on behalf of no one except myself. It’s not from Ray and it doesn’t even follow along with Ray’s directions to not solicit. But hey, it’s Ray who got the calling and the direction, not me. Hence, I can ask for anything I want.

First off I want to stress that Frontline’s Swing Night is our only fundraiser each year. It is responsible for bringing in much needed funds that help sustain us throughout the year.

That being said, now to the point: I really really need your help. At this point we’ve only got a few sponsors and just a few prizes.

I really really need your help getting sponsors - for those who haven’t read all my past pleas, sponsors are people who give money to help us fund the evening. Some come to the event, others don’t want to come but want to support it anyway. Can you ask your employer? Everyone needs a tax deduction, especially companies and businesses. How about your family? What about a friend who’s been telling you time and time again they want to help but never do.

We also need prizes. I ask every year for help - my prize getting committee consists of me, Dara Monahan and Karin Paulsen. This last year we also got help from Maura Moelter, Doug Dunlap, Kathy Dolin, and Gertrude Price. We really need more help! The prizes bring in the most funds for Frontline because they cost us nothing - it’s pure profit when they go into the silent auction and the bids come in.

I know some of you out there must know someone who can contribute car washes or ice cream coupons or manicures, or clothing, massages, or services. You all go to the cleaners , you all take trips - what about asking your travel agency, or the nursery where you buy your trees? I know some of you are account executives - can you get some of the products you represent - we could make a basket with them!

How can I say this simply? I NEED YOUR HELP! It’s a given we all love Frontline - who wouldn’t? We’re a pure, focused group that actually eliminates hunger for a few people, even if it's just for the day. But we do it. We do something. This Swing Night helps fund what we do. It’s vital to our existence.

Take this newsletter to the person you want to ask. Or I can give you a copy of the letter I send out. But please, do something to ease my life - after all, it’s me whose responsible for this part of the night - help me, please.

to Frontline volunteer

and supporter

She got 5 out of 6 lottery numbers and won $28,444.88!

We are so happy for her!

(With one more she would have gotten 19 mil!)

On Friday, July 6 KABC Channel 7 produced and aired a segment about Ray Castellani and the work he and Frontline volunteers do downtown. The segment, about 3-4 minutes, showed footage of Ray and volunteers Colin Mayo and Buddy Broin downtown on the streets serving food. Surrounded by many street people, Ch. 7 interviewed many about Frontline.

Segments like these help to keep the plight of the hungry and Frontline’s program in the spotlight, so we salute Ch. 7 for helping in our endeavor.

Ray’s Book

Online

If you’re interested in reading Ray’s book, The Long Walk Home, you can see it online at a great site called

Lisa Matthews has worked daily entering Castellani’s chapters into The Open Diary. Readers can peruse the chapters as well as leave their thoughts about the pieces in notes section. When you log on to opendiary.com on the left side search for Castellani’s name and his personal diary will open. Make sure you leave us a note and let us know what you think!

Our new kitchen is by far more efficient, in a better location, and more user friendly. But it is also more expensive than the last facility we built and rented. The Frontline 80 funded our last kitchen from the moment we rented it and did so for 10 years. At the time, the rent was $800 monthly, hence 80 members at each contributing $10 a month. While the rent there increased to $960, we still kept the name.

Our new kitchen, considerably larger, better situated and more efficient, costs $1232 per month to rent. This translates to our needing an additional 37 people. With the $372 increase in rent, the impact of the Frontline 80 becomes even more important than before. Actually, it can never be more important than it already is because for 10 years it secured our kitchen. No matter how many donations came in, we always knew we’d have a kitchen, thanks to the Frontline 80 members.

Each month the Frontline 80 people receive a pink envelope in which to return their Frontline 80 $10 contribution for the rent. We’re now also able to have people do this through the Internet on our secure site. Either way, these people deserve our thanks for helping to keep the kitchen in existence all of these years. Many of them give far more than the $10 requested, and it’s thanks to all Frontline members that our kitchen has remained open despite the increases in rent.

Thank you Frontline 80 Members

Diana Lavallee Afterman

Paul & Penny Armbruster

Sri and Jacintha Arumugam

Sasan M. Azarakhsh

James Santilena & Vernene Bell

Paul J Bellman

Dru Bishop

Ellen Carlson

John Chandler

Barbara & Jerry Connors

Colleen Ann Connors

Terry M. Couture

John and Tracy Damiani

Judy Dellar

Delta Kappa Gamma Theta Omega

Kathy Dolin

Pat and Jack Droege

G. Porter Ewing

Steven Alcala & Family

Katy and Ron Fernicola

Paulette L. Ferris

Richard & Judy Fisher

Carmen Gabriele

Theresa Rossi George

Eleanor Gil

Jack C. Godinho

Lynnette Ruby Goldner

Martha M. Elcan / Scott Guthrie

Tim Gutzwiller

Robert Harrington

Carol and Chuck Harrington

Karen Hennessey

Linda C. Hlavacek

In Memory of Danny Mustard

by Charlotte F. Mustard

In Memory Of Lee Ann Schwartz

by Dana Lee Drumm

In Memory of Leo

by Penny & Paul Armbruster

In Memory of Leo by Bill Gifford

In Memory of Mae Calleran

by Will & Pat Ordelheide

Addie D. James

Matthew C. Jones

Stan and Edna Jones

Carol Kepley

Susan Kovacevich

Doris and Jim Maher

Hussain Mandi

Cheri D. Mankin

Judy & Roger McClure

Cecilia and John Moelter

Vilma and Paul Neill

Lynn Koff and Marty Nislick

Marilyn Oliveira

Craig & Carol Ordelheide

Terry and Edwin Padgett

Cathlene & Scott Palazzo

Brooks Paley

Celia Paley

Kim Morgan De La Paz

Lawrence T.and Jane C. Piatelli

Jeannie Pollak

David W. Price

Gertrude Price

Randy Scot Ralston

Chris Reccardi

Andrew Reiss

Elizabeth Ricci

Robert J. Robertson

Therese Rodrigue

Chris Barrett & Luanne Schedeen

Mary E. Shamrock

Ruth and Hank Lynn Sobel

David Spargur

Tracy J. & Jenny D. Swanson

Ronald D. Swart

Cassandra K. Tondro

Heath Twichell

James Volpe

Nancy Walper

Lynn & Roger Walton

Todd Weeks

Nina Weinman

Hannah Weinstein

Dr. Michael K. Yanagita

Dan and Carol Ybarra

Patria Zandi

Peter and Barbara Zory