Statistics say GLBT people comprise a mere 10 percent of the population. But our generosity far exceeds our numbers. Although there are no figures correlating being gay with being charitable, the GLBT community is known for going above and beyond to share the wealth – whether it be our riches, our experience or our community resources, the GLBT community has a big heart. This year, as in years past, we’re once again rising to the occasion to ensure that this holiday season is bright for those less fortunate. The following three organizations are just a few among the many who are working overtime to bring love, laughter, cheer and good will to those who need it most.

The year was 1974. Imperial Court Empress Nicole Murray-Ramirez and Emperor Craig Morgan decided they wanted to collect toys – lots of toys – and donate them to Toys for Tots. “Back then, there were only four or five gay bars in Hillcrest, but once the community heard what we were doing they went crazy – and there was an outpouring of hundreds upon hundreds of toys,” Murray-Ramirez said.”At the end of our drive, we called the Marines to let them know we had raised a substantial number of toys to be donated, and they came to The Brass Rail to pick them up. But when they asked who the toys were from and we told them ‘the gay community,’ they turned their backs and walked away, saying ‘we cannot – and will not… accept toys from the homosexual community.’”

Those who had gathered at The Brass Rail were stunned. The idea itself was heartbreaking – especially since those involved with the toy drive had worked so hard to make it a success. But amid the tears, the disappointment and the melancholy brought on by this most unfortunate proclamation, Murray-Ramirez had an idea: If the Marines didn’t want to accept donations from the GLBT community – fine. Perhaps the GLBT community could start its own toy drive. And that’s just what it did.

“That year, I called the Hillcrest Center for Abused Children, Barrio Station, and all sorts of different types of children’s organizations that catered to children from poor families,” Murray-Ramirez said. The Imperial Court hosted a party and gave these children, the poorest of the poor, somewhere between 300 and 400 toys. We held the Toys For Kids Drive a second time the following year,and have continued to do so ever since. More then 30 years later, it’s still going strong.”

One of the greatest things about the Imperial Court’s Toys For Kids Drive is that it seeks out organizations that do not benefit from Toys For Tots.

“We also make sure that children within our own community who have lesbian or gay parents who cannot afford toys, get toys too. That’s one of our priorities – to give toys to others but to also take care of our own,” Murray-Ramirez said.

But the giving doesn’t stop there. The Imperial Court also holds an annual Blanket Drive.

“The Blanket Drive began about 15 years ago, after I read an article in the Union-Tribune that talked about how the elderly and babies in Tijuana were dying of the cold, and how organizations began raising blankets to donate to those living in the poverty-stricken areas of TJ,” Murray-Ramirez said. “When I read that, I was just dumbfounded. I couldn’t believe there was a place just 30 minutes from our city where babies were dying just from the cold – and that there were a dozen or so deaths happening every year. So I proposed to the Court that we hold a blanket drive. But we don’t just send blankets to TJ – we also donate blankets to the Veterans Shelter and the AIDS hospice as well.

“Although Imperial Court organizes these drives, it’s the community support that makes this happen. We are one of the most loving and caring communities in the nation, and this community has been supporting us in our effort to make the holidays a little brighter for less fortunate individuals for over 30 years. And for that, I’d like to say thank you,” Murray-Ramirez said.

Mama’s Kitchen has a long history of taking care of people in San Diego’s GLBT community. Delivering three nutritious meals a day, seven days a week, at no charge to men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS and other critical illnesses, Mama’s Kitchen provides food and compassion to more than 1,500 people annually living throughout San Diego County.

“This time of year is a period of giving, and we like being a part of that,” said Mama’s Kitchen executive director Alberto Cortés. “One of the traditions we have during the holiday season is offering clients the opportunity to have someone have dinner with them – and we’ll send clients an additional traditional turkey dinner. During Christmas, there are community members who donate toys to us, and we give those toys to clients who have children. It’s a wonderful thing to be able to do.

“There are so many little things that make an enormous impact, and they are often underestimated – simple things,” he said. For example, we have students from local schools that paint holiday greetings on our grocery bags, and we have students from other schools that draw up placemats that we’ll include inside those bags. The feedback we get from this is amazing, because all of these things serve as affirmations. We are able to affirm people who are vulnerable and isolated – people who are otherwise getting very little affirmation as a human being. That is what Mama’s Kitchen does – it’s not a side service. This is an important piece of the service that our volunteers participate in when they take food to someone’s door and hand it to them. The holidays are a great time to do this because we’re aware that during this time of year, people can tend to feel more vulnerable and isolated. But this is something we strive to do year ’round, not just in the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Years.

“This is a time to be grateful, and I’m certainly grateful to be part of this community,” concluded Cortés. “Mama’s Kitchen is not a ‘gay organization,’ but it’s definitely a part of the LGBT community, and we could never do what we do without the commitment and support from the community around us. Forty percent of our contributors are members of the LGBT community. Fifty percent of our over 700 volunteers are members of the LGBT community. Eighty percent of our staff is from the LGBT community, and 70 percent of our board are LGBT individuals. I’m grateful for their commitment; I’m grateful for their involvement, and on behalf of those lives who are touched by Mama’s Kitchen, I would like to say ‘thanks.’”

Almost three years ago, The Center proudly announced the creation of the Youth Housing Project. An innovative, cutting-edge program that provides 23 units of affordable, supportive housing for youth between the ages of 18 and 24, the Youth Housing Project focuses on GLBTQ youth who are transitioning out of foster care and/or group homes, or have been living in the streets or public spaces after having been ejected from their homes because of their sexual orientation. Housed in the Sunburst Apartments, the Youth Housing Project provides residents with mental health services, employment services and, perhaps most importantly, a place to call home.

“Last year was very touching for many of us involved with the Youth Housing Project (YHP) because, for a lot of the residents, it was the first holiday season they had in a stable home,” says Youth Housing Project Coordinator Dana Toppel. “This year there are new residents at the YHP, and the older residents are taking newer residents under their wing. It’s really creating a sense of family, which is really cool to see.

“During this particular holiday season (which for us began the week before Thanksgiving), we took the residents shopping and helped get them prepared. On Thanksgiving, a couple of the residents took leadership, prepared a turkey and a ham and, working together, created their own Thanksgiving celebration. All of our residents were formerly homeless – and being able to have dinner, together, in a warm and stable home is really meaningful for them. Seeing the residents build a community within themselves is really heartwarming,” Toppel says.

The YHP also helps sponsor a Christmas celebration. “This year, an anonymous donor donated money to the YHP, so we could purchase gifts for each resident. We’ll also be providing them with a holiday meal the week before Christmas and will be taking them ice skating at Horton Plaza.” In previous years, celebrating the holidays was a luxury that didn’t really register for many of the residents at the YHP, but now that they’re in a stable, supportive living environment, they are able to enjoy many of the wonderful aspects of the holidays that far too many of us take for granted.

“We are so thankful to our many supporters and community donors, because without them none of this would be possible, and we know our residents thank them as well,” Toppel concludes.

Mama’s Kitchen will host a number of New Volunteer Orientation sessions for those who are interested in donating their time. All orientation sessions will be held at the main facility, 1875 Second Avenue, San Diego, 92101. For more information, contact Bill Patten at 619-233-6262 or e-mail bill@mamaskitchen.org. To make a financial contribution, call the Mama’s Kitchen Development Office at 619-233-6262 or visit mamaskitchen.org/waystogive/waystogive.php.

The Youth Housing Project is currently seeking volunteer tutors and group facilitators. For more information on volunteering your time, contact Youth Housing Project coordinator Dana Toppel at 619-255-7854 x103 or via e-mail at dtoppel@thecentersd.org To make a financial contribution, contact Jennifer Jones at 619-255-7854 or via e-mail at jjones@thecentersd.org.

For more information regarding the Imperial Court de San Diego, visit www.imperialcourtsandiego.com.