Sharing Laughter, Tears and Kindness

“There are wonderful vibrations in this room. Let’s do it more often,” said Anne Douglas on Sunday at the “Women Helping Women” luncheon at the Anne Douglas Center in downtown Los Angeles. Douglas was honored for her generosity in establishing the center, which houses the Los Angeles Mission Women’s Outreach for homeless and destitute women.

The room had indeed vibrated with laughter and tears and joy as the women of the City Light Rehabilitation Program, one of the services of Women’s Outreach, shared their stories and hopes with celebrity attendees.

“I felt it was really important to have the luncheon here, so that people could see what’s down here,” said Donna Mills, who along with other members of Celebrity Action Council, a support group for City Light, had organized the pizza and salad meal provided by California Pizza Kitchen.

Mills’ involvement with the mission goes back many years, so she was delighted by the opening of the Anne Douglas Center in 1992--”a real rehabilitation program in which these courageous women can make the commitment to turn their lives around.”

Actress Mary Frann, who emceed the luncheon program, bought several of the $75 and $150 paintings created by the mission residents in art workshops, including one titled “Pretty As Can Be” by Debbie James.

James, who had never painted before becoming a mission resident, described her art to the visitors. “Here I was not feeling good,” she said, pointing to an image in one of her works. “But then I said I can do better than that. So I brought in the sunshine and the white cloud. Painting shows the feelings of our hearts.”

Everyone showed the feelings of their hearts. City Light resident Stacy Council moved the audience to tears with her life story and her positive hope for a future that reunites her with her three sons; Janelle Ishida and Adelle Williams read poems; Ella Mathis sang “I Can Begin Again With the Passions of a Child”; and all 27 City Light residents joined CAC member Gloria Loring in her song “And I’m Movin’ Up to Higher Ground.”

“My heart went out instantly when Mary Frann told me about this program,” said Linda Gray, who first came to the center in February and who, like the other celebrities on hand--Beth Broderick, Meredith MacRae, Susan Sullivan and Arnetia Walker--was greeted with enthusiastic hugs and kisses by the residents.

Cosmetician Vera Brown, who has for years donated her time and expertise to the mission, was honored with the “Friendship Award” and promised the City Light women: “I’ll be here for every one of your graduations.”