At a Glance
- Santa hats, warm meals, and music light up Ervay Street at 11:30 a.m. on Christmas Day.
- Volunteers from nonprofits and churches serve food, gear, and personal outreach.
- Pastors remind the homeless of gratitude and love, turning a quiet corner into a community celebration.
- Why it matters: It highlights the power of local compassion on a day when many still need help.
At about 11:30 a.m. on Christmas Day, a strip of Ervay Street in Dallas transforms into a festive gathering, with Santa hats, music, and warm meals.
Community Service on Ervay Street
People wearing Santa hats serve up warm meals while Christmas music fills the air. A passing car occasionally stops, its driver handing out money. The scene turns the quiet corner into a bustling holiday hub.
LeTitia Owens and Where Are You?
LeTitia Owens, who heads the nonprofit Where Are You? Homeless Outreach, says the scene is a far cry from a decade ago. She distributes snacks, soda, water, and flashlights, and shares her own experience of living in her car in 2012. LeTitia Owens reflected:
> “No one was hardly out there at the time, and so, to see all these people here all these years, serving-it’s sad, because the need is greater, but it is so amazing that so many people find it in their hearts, on Christmas Day, to come and be a blessing and to be answered prayers,”
She added:
> “I lived in my car back in 2012,” she said. “It felt lonely. It felt like, ‘Where is the help that I need?’ But the Lord provided people with blessings and gifts, which taught me the same thing that I wanted to do.”
She also says:
> “Put our hands on them, touch them, have a short conversation, and just remind them that they are loved,” she said.
- Snacks
- Soda
- Water
- Flashlights
Myron Jones and The Abundant Life Worship Center
Myron Jones, Senior Pastor at The Abundant Life Worship Center DFW, set up camp with his team from Mesquite. He reminds participants that many are only one paycheck away from hardship, urging gratitude and generosity. Myron Jones said:
> “It’s just a reminder how fortunate that we are and not to take anything for granted, because, truth be told, many of us are one paycheck away from being in this same line. And so, I don’t want that to be lost on your viewers: To be grateful for how God has blessed them mightily, and to remember to give back.”
He added:
> “When you are living amongst this population, you feel as though society has forgotten about you, that God has thrown you away and that He no longer loves you, but that’s the farthest thing from the truth.”
The church has been doing feedings on the first Saturday of the month for the last four years, extending it to Thanksgiving and Christmas mornings a couple of years ago. Myron Jones said:
> “The church has been doing feedings on the first Saturday of the month for the last four years, extending it to Thanksgiving and Christmas mornings a couple of years ago.”
- Hot meals
- Cold weather gear
- Personal outreach
| Event | Frequency |
|---|---|
| First Saturday of month | 4 years |
| Thanksgiving morning | Added a couple of years ago |
| Christmas morning | Added a couple of years ago |
Key Takeaways
- Ervay Street becomes a hub of warmth and generosity on Christmas Day.
- Volunteers from nonprofits and churches provide food, gear, and heartfelt outreach.
- Pastors use the occasion to remind the homeless of gratitude, love, and the importance of giving back.
A quiet Dallas street turns into a celebration of community spirit on Christmas morning.
