Holiday Tradition: Rhonda Walker hosts the 'Christmas for the Homeless Party'

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DETROIT – My holiday tradition is to feed and bring the joy of Christmas to the homeless. 

I started hosting the Christmas for the Homeless Party 14 years ago for the women and children at the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries-Genesis House II Transitional Housing Shelter.  As a child my family always adopted needed families and provided food and gifts at Christmas time and I wanted to continue this tradition in a bigger way.  So I reached out to my family, friends and coworkers to adopt the children and provide gifts along with donating items to fill giant gift bags for their mothers and other women at the shelter.   Additionally, the teen girls of the Rhonda Walker Foundation host arts and crafts tables and serve the families a tummy stuffing feast catered by Beans and Cornbread of Southfield.

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Today the Christmas for the Homeless Party continues annually and has grown to over 200 people.  It brings our families together with the homeless families every 2nd Saturday in December and we tell the families “Today is your Christmas”.  It’s  a special, inspiring day of love, hope, support and fun we all look forward to every year.  It includes a huge feast, a DJ and dancing, face painting, lots of gifts for all, photos with Santa and a gathering that most of all helps these families experience the true joy of the season. 

It’s our favorite day of the year!

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What's your holiday tradition? Use our form below and may feature you on Local 4 News Today with Rhonda, Evrod Cassimy, Brandon Roux, Kim DeGiulio and Jason Carr.  


About the Author:

Rhonda Walker has been helping Detroiters get motivated and ready for the day for the past 22 years. A confessed morning person, this award winning talented and versatile journalist starts her day at 2:00 am to co-anchor the weekday morning newscast at WDIV-Local 4 News. A position she’s held since 2003.