Brandy Glaspher’s faith in God is a lot like waiting in a long line — peoples’ blessings come in turn.
“I’m teaching my children that if you have faith in God, eventually good will come to you,” Glaspher said.
Sunday morning, Glaspher’s patience was tested and her faith strengthened as she and her three children spent over three hours waiting in line for the 28th Annual Father Woody Christmas Party.
The party provided turkey dinners for a record 2,865 of Denver’s homeless and members of low-income families. Everyone who attended the dinner received a new piece of clothing, and every child got a new toy wrapped and ready to go under the tree.
The late Monsignor Charles B. Woodrich, also known as Father Woody, started the event in 1981 when he opened the doors of the Holy Ghost Church to Denver’s homeless, said event chairman Peter Droege.
Father Woody’s undertaking to provide about 100 homeless people with a warm meal and place to sleep is now a combined effort by the Archdiocese of Denver, the Daniels Fund, the Holy Ghost Church and Regis University.
“Father Woody always looked at the poor as honored guests,” Droege said.
About 300 volunteers served 1,800 pounds of turkey and delivered about 5,000 gifts in the ballroom of the Sheraton downtown, which was filled all morning.
Apple juice spilled from plastic cups when the group at Brandy Glaspher’s table raised their glasses for Christmas cheers. Glaspher’s son Daivon, 11, and daughter Dai’zha’nae RaiBon, 8, giggled as they ate their cookies and discussed what they wanted for Christmas.
“It’s a very warm and wonderful experience for my children,” Glaspher said.
The Glaspher family slowly shuffled along the line, which stretched two blocks, without the children knowing what was at its end.
Glaspher told them to wait and have faith.
Her 6-year-old daughter, Ghanaizaha RaiBon, said she did not mind standing in line because she got to see Santa on the way to her table.
“Christmas is important because it’s Jesus’ birthday, and he makes sure that everyone has a present,” Ghanaizaha said.
On her way out of the hotel, the little girl said she was going to ask Santa for a puppy.
Jordan Steffen: 303-954-1638 or jsteffen@denverpost.com