Thanksgiving Day is a time to thank God for His blessings, and dates back almost four centuries in America.

On September 25, 1789, our nation’s congress requested the President to declare a day of "public thanksgiving and prayer."

President George Washington heartily agreed, and declared: "Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor... may we all unite to render unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection."

Never wanting to forget "...the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God," Fred Jordan Missions will take time this Thanksgiving Day on the streets of Skid Row, and with one voice we will give thanks to God for His blessings, His mercy and His protection upon this nation.

We will also give thanks to God for friends like you who give so generously to make possible the traditional Turkey dinner with all the trimmings that we will serve Thanksgiving Day, as well as all the good food that we serve every day to thousands of hungry Americans.

When Fred Jordan founded the Mission in 1944 he had two goals: to give the Bread of Life to hungry hearts, and to give good food to hungry bodies.

Thank you for your regular donations that help us continue these same principles and goals here on the streets of Skid Row and in America’s inner cities.

Your most grateful servant,
Willie L. Jordan (Mrs. Fred Jordan)

The Boxes of Hope campaign is an ideal way for churches, businesses, schools, service organizations, and individuals to partner with us to help alleviate hunger. Boxes will be filled with urgently needed food and other survival items, providing real Hope to hungry families and children in “pockets of poverty” throughout the inner city. Read more...

Dear Ones:

I want to share with you a quick recap of the October 2nd excitement on the streets of Skid Row.

20 Years, 100,000 Kids - - this was the theme for Fred Jordan Missions’ 20th Anniversary Back-to-School event, with Foot Locker joining us again for the 20th consecutive year as our major corporate partner!

More than 100,000 impoverished kids have been served at this annual event, and Foot Locker has put new shoes and new socks on every child! That is a donation of well over $10 million dollars, even if we average out each pair of shoes at $100, though Thursday they put shoes on some little (and big) feet that cost more than $300 a pair.

A HUNDRED THOUSAND THANKS TO FOOT LOCKER from 100,000 happy little kids! (And a suggestion that you patronize Foot Locker the next time you need athletic shoes!)

When the mothers and children arrived at the head of the line, each one was served with a delicious cheeseburger, cold drink and a crisp, red apple, thanks to the generosity of the good folks at In-N-Out Burger that once again sent two large kitchens on wheels!

Clothes were donated by generous companies such as Lucky Brand and Guess? - - the law firm of Lerner, Lauzon and Jamarra, LLP purchased back packs filled with school supplies and all the principals and employees of the firm came to the streets to distribute the goodies to grateful children - - and Procter and Gamble employees distributed a bag filled with tooth brushes, toothpaste, shampoo & other personal hygiene products.

The day’s festivities started with a Runway Fashion Show, put on by inner city children dressed in the beautiful new clothes and shoes they received at the event. The kids were a hit!

Then the kids gathered around the stage to blow out the candles on L.A.’s largest birthday cake to celebrate the Back-to-School 20th Anniversary. The cake was made with 5,000 cupcakes and donated by Vons, and every child was given a birthday cupcake as they left the event.

More than 100 stylists from Paul Mitchell the School, cut and styled children’s hair throughout the day in their hair salon under a giant tent.

More than a dozen TV crews began arriving at the Mission on Skid Row at 4am to show the world the good things that can happen when we all work together - - compassionate individuals and generous corporations that truly care about the neediest among us. There were 33 separate TV segments aired Thursday!!!

While TV crews and news personalities interviewed families and children, got shots of kids being fitted with shoes, and all the great things that were happening, TV news helicopters hovered overhead, showing the thousands of needy families and children wrapped around several city blocks, waiting patiently in line to be served. (The first family arrived 52 hours before the event started, quickly followed by hundreds more, to make certain their children wouldn’t miss out on the much-needed shoes, clothes and all the other supplies.)

So many good things happened that it would take hours to relate them all. Suffice it to say, it was a great day! Thank you for being such a valuable part of all that God is doing here on the streets for those whom Jesus called, “…the least of these.”

Here are just a few links to share the good news of Thursday’s event, though if you Google - - Fred Jordan Missions, or Fred Jordan Missions and Foot Locker, you will find dozens more links - - some have the news video clips and some the printed reports.