The Nation - News from Jan. 2, 1987

More than 24,000 people were fed over the holidays in Seattle in what is believed to be the biggest yuletide project in the nation to serve hot food to the poor and homeless, officials said. Since Dec. 23, homeless people and families with children have lined up around the clock each day for the free meals in a city park, organizers said. The last meal, with food donated by individuals and businesses, was scheduled to be served today. “We’ve had the usual amount of alcoholics, of course, but we’ve also seen a lot of families with kids,” said Bob Wilmott, director of Strand Helpers, a group that aids the homeless. “I guess you’d call them the new-born poor.”