Bay Area Members came together to provide a festive Christmas experience at the Maple Street Shelter. Due to Covid safety restrictions, Knights and Dames were not able to enter the shelter itself but they still provided a special Christmas for the residents for the 15^th year in a row. Maple Street provides emergency and transitional housing for 60 single men and women each night. Further, the Shelter makes a point of ensuring that they serve at least 20 veterans every single night. This

Members prepped and cooked delicious Christmas cookies, ham, tri-tip, scalloped potatoes, and broccoli casserole for all the residents at Maple Street. They also dropped off a whole truck full of decorations and three Christmas trees for the shelter.

To add the personal touch, the Members brought Christmas wreaths for each resident’s room, Santa caps, personal Christmas cards, See’s candies, and $100 gift cards for the residents as well. The gift cards were a special surprise for the residents. For the Members of the Order of Malta, it is not simply about doing the work. It is all about how the work is done.

Now I can buy Christmas presents for my kids.” - Resident of the Maple Street Shelter

Altogether 36 Bay Area Order of Malta Members spent 235 hours and donated $14,155 to make this occasion so festive for everyone at the Maple Street Shelter.