Tulsa Group Puts On Christmas Celebration For People Experiencing Homelessness

The City Lights Foundation feeds hundreds of homeless people under a bridge near I-244 and Highway 412 every Thursday night.

Thursday, they held a Christmas celebration complete with food, gifts, and pictures with Santa.

Many people say they’ve been coming to this bridge for years to get a hot meal.

They say it makes them feel like they’re human and not forgotten about.

“Everybody don’t live under the bridge," said Sierra Shawnee. "But everybody don’t make a lot of money either. So it’s a blessing for people to give us food and stuff.”

 At Thursday's Christmas celebration, people received a Barbecue dinner, got pictures with Santa, and some Christmas gifts.

City Lights played Christmas music, set up a Christmas tree, and offered free haircuts.

The foundation has been working with the people under that bridge for more than ten years.

Their goal is to make sure people who are homeless feel taken care of and part of the community.

About 100 volunteers helped Thursday with serving food, putting up lights, and setting up tables. 

Shawnee says the people who come to this area are part of one giant family.

“People know about it and come down here," said Shawnee. "People don’t forget when they get housed, and they become more wealthier and stabilized. People don’t forget about this. So it’s always going to be a blessing, it’s always a blessing. It don’t matter where you are, if you’re up or down.

Gertie Randall recently moved into a house, and she says she will keep coming back to see her friends and make sure they know it’s important to have hope.

“It means a lot to anybody that’s homeless to treat them like a human being," said Randall. "Like they’re a person. Like they have a purpose in their life, and treat them with dignity and respect.”

The City Lights Foundation says it’s always looking for more volunteers, and they offer free meals every Thursday night year-round.

Sarah Grounds, the Executive Director of City Lights Oklahoma, says she hopes people will continue to help volunteer even outside of the holiday season.

“This is one night, but our friends on the streets are here throughout the year," said Grounds. "So a lot of times, we see an increase in giving and support during the holidays, which is great, and we need that, but just to remember, our friends are out here year-round, and we are about to hit these big heavy winter months.”