Ella B’s is the Place to Be!
The holiday spirit was alive and well at in Arlington on Wednesday.
More than 100 people from 色窝窝无码一区二区三区鈥檚 Families in Transition (FIT) program enjoyed an upscale dining experience during the inaugural Ella B鈥檚 Generous Hands: Holiday Give Back Dinner, which featured a visit from Santa Claus, presents and pampering.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been able to partner with many different community groups to make sure that our students and families in transition have an opportunity to have a nice dinner before the holidays, where they can sit and be served,鈥 said Kecia Mays, president of the 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 Board of Trustees. 鈥淚t鈥檚 all about them this evening.鈥
The sit-down meal was served by an army of volunteers from across the community, including 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 Superintendent Dr. Marcelo Cavazos and members of 色窝窝无码一区二区三区鈥檚 student outreach services team. The holiday meal featured southern chicken, mashed potatoes, cabbage, yams and desserts.
According to Mays, the collaboration of several community partners allowed the event to be provided to families at no cost to them.
鈥淲e鈥檙e really grateful for the Texas Rangers, Dallas Cowboys, the City of Arlington, UTA and some of the groups that have come together to help serve and provide the food, and especially to Ella B鈥檚 for providing the food and location,鈥 she said.
What it’s all about
The event wasn鈥檛 just all about the food, either. Every student who came left with toys, free shoes from Metro Sports Fieldhouse and bags of groceries donated by Food for the Soul.
For board member Sarah McMurrough, seeing the gratitude in people鈥檚 eyes and on their faces was a reminder of how important it is to connect with others, especially during the holidays.
鈥淚t鈥檚 all about giving back,鈥 she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 a former 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 student. It feels really good to be able to give back to our community. We鈥檙e all here for our students and their families.鈥
Patrick and Patricia Whitfield 鈥 Ella B鈥檚 owners 鈥 have done charitable work in the region for more than 20 years, providing hot meals to people in need. When Patrick saw the kids鈥 reactions during the event, he knew it was a success.
鈥淪eeing their faces, it was priceless,鈥 Whitfield said. 鈥淚t is something my wife and I look forward to. My grandmother always instilled in me, 鈥業f you鈥檙e able to do, you do.鈥 It鈥檚 just a joy to be able to do something for someone else because we never know when we鈥檙e going to be in that position ourselves.鈥
Families were able to enjoy an evening of fun and holiday cheer, even if it was only for a few hours. Regina Hawthorne, who is currently living in a hotel with her three grandsons, relished the event.
鈥淚t was nice to have a good meal and be treated with respect,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 really enjoyed it.鈥
Hawthorne credited Shar Thompson, a Families in Transition school social worker at 色窝窝无码一区二区三区, for inviting her family to the holiday dinner at Ella B鈥檚.
鈥淭hank you. Keep up the good work. Humanity, these days, is hard to come by.鈥