Mission Goes All Out to Brighten Holiday : Christmas: The homeless and poor stand in line for hours for a hot meal and a gift. Some have jobs but say they couldn't afford any other celebration.

By LILY DIZON

Dec. 26, 1991 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

SANTA ANA — Standing at the street corner, fruitlessly waving his sign “Will work for food” to cars passing his way, Joe Kaye talked wistfully about the feast he had last Christmas.

“There was turkey and ham, mashed potatoes, dressing and pumpkin pie,” said the 39-year-old homeless man, who four months ago lost his job painting cars. “I haven’t eaten since yesterday so I guess talking about food ain’t going to help my grumbling stomach.”

A few minutes later, he got a better offer.

“You can put that (sign) away for the day,” said a homeless woman, who walked up to him pushing a shopping cart full of empty bottles. “Let’s go and have a Christmas dinner.”

Kaye paused, shrugged his shoulders and walked down the street with the stranger. He turned a corner and to his surprise saw a line of people--some of the 5,000 homeless and needy who went to the Orange County Rescue Mission Wednesday to receive donated food and gifts for the holidays.

With the recession continuing and the economy stalled, there are more luckless people lining up at food giveaway programs, according to local charity officials. In addition, there are more employed people who do not have enough money for a celebration this year. They, too, joined the procession for food and presents at the mission.

“People need help more this year than they’ve ever had before,” said Jim Palmer, the mission’s executive project director. “They have less this year . . . and what we want to do today is to help make up some of the difference.”

The Christmas Day throng at the mission was the largest of such dinners in the state, according to organizers, who said they based that statement on comparisons with sister organizations statewide. The public apparently is responding to the need, Palmer added, at least on Christmas Day in Orange County.

More than 800 adults and children crowded the mission’s office throughout the day to volunteer their services. Across the street, three white tents were set up to serve as kitchens, dining room and a place to give gifts. Many of the volunteers showed up as early as 8 a.m. to prepare for the crowd.

The tents were opened at 11 a.m. and by then, more than 500 people were in line. Later in the day, many waited up to three hours to reach the dining room where long Formica tables covered with paper tablecloths awaited them. There, they were seated and served by volunteers who brought them the traditional holiday dinner of turkey, ham, vegetables and pumpkin pie.

One of the those who volunteered part of their Christmas Day at the mission was state Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach), who served food and cleaned tables.

“When the children look at you and they smile with gratitude, it makes you feel very sad knowing they don’t have very much,” Bergeson said as she walked around the tent picking up trash. “I enjoy doing this, but I hope that things will get better next year and this sort of thing won’t be necessary.”

Vincente Gomez of Santa Ana said he wishes that times were better so that his family could have a “comfortable” celebration at their own home during the holiday season. As it is, this was the fifth year he brought his family to the mission for dinner and gifts.

“I work and have money,” said the 40-year-old machine operator, “but not enough to buy food for” his wife and five young children that befits the holiday. Gomez said he and his wife, Evelia, come for the free food while the children are more excited about the presents.

“We got them two presents each, but small ones . . . cheap ones,” he said. “They’ll get more today here. They will be happy.”

Many of the people who came to the mission Wednesday said they have steady jobs and income. But in a year where they just manage to get by, spending money to celebrate Christmas was not high on their list of priorities, most said.

“So, we come here for food and presents,” said 17-year-old Andrea Nava, who showed up with her mother, aunt and siblings.

“We just bought a Christmas tree and that was our Christmas,” she said. “We’ll go home and put the gifts that we get from here under the tree later, and we’ll have a real Christmas.”

This was the second year her family went without a “Navidad celebration,” Nava said. “My dad have to send money home to my grandma in Mexico because she’s sick, so we don’t have any extra money.”

Butch and Wolf, two longtime friends who live on the street between two buildings near the dock off Long Beach, showed up at the mission this week to sleep in a warm place. For them, the free food and presents were a bonus.

“Christmas used to mean something; now it’s just another day,” said 43-year-old Wolf, who with his friend didn’t want to give last names. “At least Butch and I got each other, and today we’re well-fed.”

Tomorrow, “we’ll be back picking up bottles and cans, but today we’ll just take what they’ll give us,” added Butch, 47, as the two finished their dinner and headed toward the gift tent.

Not far away, Joe Kaye walked through the gift tent but left without accepting a wrapped package. However, Kaye, who has been living on the streets since he lost his job, picked up a military blanket to keep himself warm as the sun slid behind the clouds and the temperature dropped.

“I wanted my turkey dinner, and I got it,” Kaye said, walking back toward the street. Flapping against his back was his cardboard sign dangling on a string around his neck, advertising service for food.