Thanksgiving Need Grows, So Does Help

Shortly after dawn on Thanksgiving Day, Derek Hyun was in South Los Angeles with three dozen other Korean-Americans, preparing eggs, biscuits and sausages for African-American and Latino homeless and poor.

Nearly seven months ago, Hyun’s family had gone through what the 28-year-old called “a double disaster”--the loss of his parents’ small jewelry business in South Los Angeles during the riots, and of most of their belongings when sparks from a nearby arson fire burned their apartment.

But on Thursday Hyun wanted to do something other than feel sorry for himself, the dental school graduate said. “Especially now, we have to get back to basics, and love your neighbor,” he said.

The breakfast at the Lord’s Kitchen on South Main Street was one of several feasts for the needy that have become holiday traditions throughout the Los Angeles area, from Calabasas to Hollywood and Long Beach. But on this first Thanksgiving after the riots, the unrest was still on many minds, with evidence of its destructive legacy often in plain sight.

On a side street near Western Avenue where the Faith in Christ Ministries had set up outdoor tables, hundreds of South Los Angeles’ poor ate within view of burned-out stores, where twisted metal and debris still had not been removed.

On downtown Los Angeles’ Skid Row, Willie Jordan stopped counting after the first 1,000 volunteers appeared to help serve 5,000 meals outside the Fred Jordan Mission, which she heads. The number of helpers eventually doubled, she estimated, a total that was larger, and younger, than Jordan had ever seen. The turnout, she felt, was a positive reaction to the unrest.

“I think people are finally waking up,” Jordan said.

Sadly, the turnout of the needy seemed larger than ever, too, particularly among families with children. At the Union Rescue Mission downtown, Stacy Hisek came with her 3-month-old son, Yaqui, because she is dependent on the mission every day, not just Thanksgiving Day.

The 23-year-old mother was in the same straits she is in just before the end of every month, when her $624-a-month welfare check runs out. After she pays her $400 rent, she tries to leave as much of the remaining $224--an average of about $7 a day--for food, baby formula and diapers, but never makes it. “It’s really hard,” she said.

At the Lord’s Kitchen, where Hyun was working with his group from the La Sung World Evangelical Church near downtown, a Latino man with six children said they were dependent on food giveaways because he and his wife were undocumented immigrants and could not find work.

At a nearby table, Clarence Kahlik sat with his wife, two sons and a daughter. “I’m embarrassed for my children to see me like this,” Kahlik said. “The phone is off, the gas is off. I had to pawn the TV. Last week it was my 10-year-old son’s birthday and somebody else had to buy his cake.”

The last job Kahlik held was at a liquor store owned by Korean-Americans, but he was uncomfortable with the job and quit. “They wanted me to fight for them, put customers out,” he said.

Now Kahlik is waiting for much-vaunted construction jobs to materialize when the area rebuilds from the riots, but he fears that will never happen. “They were going to fix up the community, but you never hear about that now, never,” he said.

The Korean group had borrowed the Lord’s Kitchen from the Mt. Zion Baptist Church, which regularly serves meals in the small, one-story building. But La Sung pastor Yong-Soon Hyun promised more involvement.

“Through the riots we have to learn,” he told the needy who gathered to listen to his sermon. “I think the events gave us the opportunity to know African blacks better, and they know Korean-Americans better.”

Hyun’s church had been providing meals there once a month and will continue to do so, the minister said, but will also bring clothing to distribute. “I want to ask you to help us, pray for us and let us share,” Hyun said. His listeners cheered and clapped.

Several blocks away, nearly 100 volunteers--from churches in both Malibu and Rosemead--helped Joe Browne cook 150 turkeys to serve outside his Faith in Christ Ministries. Among them was Phil Dunn, a Malibu-area resident who said coming to South Los Angeles was a matter of “getting over misconceptions that everybody down here hates you.

“After you come down here, all the fears are gone,” Dunn said.

While the needy there ate to the accompaniment of live gospel music, about 400 homeless people and runaway youth in West Los Angeles chomped their turkey to rock music at the trendy Hard Rock Cafe.

The restaurant closed for Thanksgiving so that cafe employees could volunteer their time and serve the free meals.

At least one homeless patron, Joe Tuoti, was very impressed. “We got served so fast, in five minutes!” he exclaimed. “In an organized free feeding place you’d be on line a whole hour. And the professional waiters are coming to the tables!”