On December 30, 2001, over 230 homeless people at a drop-in shelter in Cincinnati, Ohio were happy to receive a holiday visit from the Ohio Center of the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association.

The atmosphere at the shelter became filled with joy when members of the Center arrived and began setting up to distribute food and gifts. Hundreds of presents had been placed inside brightly-colored gift bags and traditional Christmas stockings, including new socks, warm sweaters, and candies.

Ohio initiates in the USA prepare a delicious Christmas meal and provide gifts for the residents of a homeless shelter.

Besides the gifts, a delicious meal was provided for all of the residents at the shelter as part of a Christmas holiday celebration. Several people at the shelter said that they remembered us from previous years' visits and that they always wait for us to come back, adding that we were missed very much. Seeing shelter residents enjoying their food and small gifts with such happiness was a great reward for our working staff. We knew that it was not the small material contributions that we had provided, but Master's boundless love that gave them all a feeling of happiness and contentment.

The shelter, which had been very noisy when we arrived, was quiet and peaceful when we left, as many residents came up to us to say thank you and goodbye. The staff person in charge of the shelter said that our working team is unique because we are the only organization that personally offers love and care to warm the hearts of the homeless during the Christmas holidays.

With Master's grace, fellow initiates who participated in this love-sharing activity had an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the endless suffering in this world and to enhance their love and compassion.