Christmas: Hot meal at mission, Starbucks coffee, movie
By Travis Coleman Journal Staff Writer | Posted: Wednesday, December 26, 2007
SIOUX CITY -- Christmas for Phil Hamak is a hot meal on a cold day from someone he's never met but who is now a friend.
"It was more than a lunch. It was a major feast," said Hamak, who was one of more than 200 fed at the Sioux City Gospel Mission Tuesday.
The Gospel Mission served turkey, ham, green beans and sweet potatoes to the poor and homeless on Christmas, which along with Thanksgiving, is one of the mission's busiest days, said Mike Keady, a mission cook.
Normally, Hamak begs for his meals. On Christmas, his plate was served to him by one of the mission's 28 volunteers.
"It was a day of complete luxury," Hamak said.
Along with a lunch and dinner, the mission gave away care packages with gloves, socks, brushes and other items.
For others like Mary Urbach and her daughter JoAnne Moody, Christmas was a long search for something to do on a day in which seemingly everything was closed. After spending the last two days together, Urbach wanted to show her daughter what's new in the city, as Moody was visiting from California.
"We had cabin fever. We had to come out," said Urbach.
Other than a few restaurants, Sioux City had slim pickings for recreation, until -- success! -- they found Starbucks was open.
"With my daughter here, I don't care what we do," Urbach said. "That makes Christmas."
With little else to do, many residents lined up to see a movie. When moviegoer Logan Dake was a child, he said Christmas Day was spent playing with his new toys. But now, the day is mundane. Without the traffic, the trip to the movies was less hectic, though.
"It was like a ghost town," Dake said.
Christmas wasn't a complete day of relaxation for Orland Strom, who was called in to work after a motorist accidentally drove through the front window of the BP convenience store off U.S. Highway 75. Residents said it was fortunate that the store had been closed at the time of accident, as people often sit on the benches beside that front window.
A store employee, Strom cleared off the broken glass, window frames and drywall after the collision happened around 2:30 p.m.
The unidentified man who drove through the window won't be charged in the crash, said Sioux City police officer Mary Holzwarth.
"It was just one of those lousy things that happen on Christmas," Holzwarth said.
"It was more than a lunch. It was a major feast," said Hamak, who was one of more than 200 fed at the Sioux City Gospel Mission Tuesday.
The Gospel Mission served turkey, ham, green beans and sweet potatoes to the poor and homeless on Christmas, which along with Thanksgiving, is one of the mission's busiest days, said Mike Keady, a mission cook.
Normally, Hamak begs for his meals. On Christmas, his plate was served to him by one of the mission's 28 volunteers.
"It was a day of complete luxury," Hamak said.
Along with a lunch and dinner, the mission gave away care packages with gloves, socks, brushes and other items.
For others like Mary Urbach and her daughter JoAnne Moody, Christmas was a long search for something to do on a day in which seemingly everything was closed. After spending the last two days together, Urbach wanted to show her daughter what's new in the city, as Moody was visiting from California.
"We had cabin fever. We had to come out," said Urbach.
Other than a few restaurants, Sioux City had slim pickings for recreation, until -- success! -- they found Starbucks was open.
"With my daughter here, I don't care what we do," Urbach said. "That makes Christmas."
With little else to do, many residents lined up to see a movie. When moviegoer Logan Dake was a child, he said Christmas Day was spent playing with his new toys. But now, the day is mundane. Without the traffic, the trip to the movies was less hectic, though.
"It was like a ghost town," Dake said.
Christmas wasn't a complete day of relaxation for Orland Strom, who was called in to work after a motorist accidentally drove through the front window of the BP convenience store off U.S. Highway 75. Residents said it was fortunate that the store had been closed at the time of accident, as people often sit on the benches beside that front window.
A store employee, Strom cleared off the broken glass, window frames and drywall after the collision happened around 2:30 p.m.
The unidentified man who drove through the window won't be charged in the crash, said Sioux City police officer Mary Holzwarth.
"It was just one of those lousy things that happen on Christmas," Holzwarth said.
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 1 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
USA Steve wrote on Dec 26, 2007 6:04 PM: