The Los Angeles Mission will hold its annual Easter celebration on Good Friday, March 25.
The Mission staff and volunteers will serve nearly 3,000 free hot meals to adults and children, and, in addition, will wash the feet of the homeless.
Not only is the foot washing a Christian tradition that began when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples the night before he was crucified, it’s also part of the Mission medical clinic’s effort to alleviate the foot problems suffered by many of the people who live on the streets of Skid Row, an area the Mission calls Hope Central.
As part of the effort, over 2,000 pairs of new shoes will be given to homeless people. Etnies, a leading maker of athletic shoes, is donating the shoes and staff members to fit the shoes to their new owners.
The 500 homeless children who are expected will each receive an Easter bag full of candy and surprises.
As in past years, the volunteers will include some well-known faces. The event will be hosted by Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. and actors Melissa Joan Hart, Allison Munn, Jayne Meadows, Julianne Morris, Kristoffer Polaha, Roma Maffia, Steve Railsback, Penn Badgley, Suzanne Whang, Congresswoman Hilda Solis, LAPD Chief William Bratton, and L.A. City Council Members Tom LeBonge and Dennis Zine will be on hand.The celebration will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Los Angeles Mission, 5th and Wall Street. The entire block of 5th Street between Wall and San Pedro will be closed to vehicular traffic that day.
