Author: Mark Lazzara
The City of Good Neighbors always seems to get brighter during the holiday season. Over the years I have seen countless families in need, yet, Buffalo citizens always step up and serve their fellow friends and neighbors or even total strangers!
One family that has done more than their fair share of bringing Christmas joy to others is Pastor Eric John and his wife Michele, through their Pastor Eric and Michele Johns’ Boxes of Love program located in the Buffalo Dream Center. I fell in love with their mission, 17 years ago. They do not scrutinize people or put recipients through a bureaucratic process – all they do is require proper ID for those seeking help; and every child receives a holiday wrapped gift. I stood side-by-side with them on the freezing streets of Buffalo’s West Side helping to give away toys and food for their first giveaway back in 1999.
I started my own mission to serve the needy over 40 years ago. When I was 17, the leadership of the Franciscan center asked me to help deliver food and toys for Christmas to a handful of families in order to make a happy Christmas for them. I felt so proud and honored that I could help. I had my first car and I would have driven to the ends of the earth to fulfill that request.
As I finished, feeling a bit self-righteous, a young man about my age seemed to appear out of nowhere. He came over to me as I was leaving and asked me, “Do you have anymore?” I said “No, I’m sorry” He invited me into his modest apartment where it seemed they were a living crèche – a poorly dressed young woman, baby and him. My heart was aching and I said, “I’ll be back in 30 minutes.” I was fortunate to be able to give them a complete Christmas package, including everything his small family needed to celebrate the Yuletide. Although I don’t remember their names, the image of that family has stayed with me throughout my life. That day was a life changing experience for me and fueled my passion to serve those in the greatest needs.
Fast forward 20 years, my 10 year old daughter joined me to help Pastor Eric and his wife Michele for their first “Boxes of Love” campaign, to give hundred homeless and indigent families a better holiday. My daughter became compassionate about the less fortunate as a result of that experience.
As the 2015 holiday season approached, Eric and Michele’s young sons, Alex 13 and Nate 11 appear to be leading the effort… leading the spirit of giving, and training the next generation of Buffalo’s good neighbors! The boys lived out on the streets with their parents to help raise awareness for the homeless. The Johns boys have now taken my 7 year old grandson under their wings. They are exemplar community servants, with a focused determination to help the less fortunate. Their spirits are unprecedented, for 13 and 11 year old youngsters.
Not only do the Johns’ entire family spend months giving families a wonderful Christmas, every Christmas Eve the Buffalo Dream Center joins hands with Hearts for the Homeless, a ministry which feeds homeless men, women, and children, throughout the year. The two ministries invite those who are homeless, lonely, or in need to be a part of a delicious holiday meal. Last year more than 350 dinners were served on Christmas Eve, December 24th, 2015 2PM at 286 Lafayette Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14213.
The Johns family (Dream Centers Boxes of Love) has served more than 50,000 families over the last 17 years. As the season of perceptual hope comes to an end, if you want to help you can go to Buffalo Dream Center or Facebook to learn more about this wonderful selfless initiative.
Photos by Victoria Johns