LITTLE LESS PAINFUL AT THE PUMP. HAPPENING TODAY, THE MODESTO GOSPEL MISSION IS SET TO FEED 3000 PEOPLE AS PART OF A CHRISTMAS LUNCH AND GIFT GIVEAWAY. SO PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LINING UP SINCE REALLY EARLY THIS MORNING. VOLUNTEERS ARE NOW PREPARING FOR THE EVENT. THAT’S STILL SEVERAL HOURS AWAY, BUT THIS MORNING WE WELCOME JASON CONWAY. HE’S THE CEO OF THE MODESTO GOSPEL MISSION. JASON, GOOD MORNING. THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. GOOD MORNING. MERRY CHRISTMAS. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU. SO WE KNOW FOLKS STARTED LINING UP ABOUT 4 A.M. WHAT TIME DID THE DOORS ACTUALLY OPEN AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN THEY DO? YEAH, WE’RE KICKING OFF CHRISTMAS THIS WEEK. THE DOORS WILL OPEN UP AT 11:00. THAT’S WHERE FAMILIES WILL COME IN. BASICALLY GET A LUNCH, DINNER, CHRISTMAS TRADITION, HAM, YAMS. AND THEN THEY’LL WALK IN HERE AND AS YOU SEE BEHIND ME, THERE’S TOYS. AND NOT JUST SOME TOYS, A LOT OF TOYS. WE WANT EACH OF THESE TOYS TO GO BACK TO THE FAMILY, WATCH THESE KIDS, THEY COME THROUGH WITH THE SMILES ON THEIR FACE, WALKING INTO WHAT WE CALL KIND OF A SANTA’S WORKSHOP. IT LOOKS SO FESTIVE OUT THERE. JASON, HOW MANY FAMILIES OR PEOPLE CAN YOU SERVE ON ANY GIVEN DAY? YEAH, SO EVERY DAY WE’RE SERVING CLOSE TO 300 FAMILIES. WE SHELTER 225 MEN, WOMEN AND KIDS, AND THEN WE’RE GIVEN ABOUT 500 MEALS A DAY JUST ON A DAILY BASIS. AND WE’RE LOOKING AT SOME VIDEO FROM LAST YEAR OF JUST THE PEOPLE RECEIVING THOSE GIFTS AND THE FOOD. WHAT KINDS OF THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN THAT DOOR OPENS AT 11:00? IT’S CONTROLLED CHAOS. LET ME JUST SAY THAT, BUT IN A GREAT WAY, BECAUSE AS THEY COME IN, THEY’LL GET IN LINE FOR A LUNCH, DINNER, HAM. LIKE I SAID, YAMS, ROLLS, HOMEMADE CUPCAKES. THEN THEY’LL WALK INTO THE CHAPEL AND THEN WE HAVE CHRISTMAS GIFTS AROUND THE TABLE. THESE KIDS WILL SEE THAT THE SMILES ON THEIR FACE IS PRICELESS, AND IT’S SUCH AN IMPRESSIVE DISPLAY OF GIFTS THAT YOU HAVE OUT THERE BEHIND YOU. AND OBVIOUSLY THE MEALS ARE SO WELCOME AS WELL. WHERE DO YOU GET THE DONATIONS TO HELP SUPPORT THIS INCREDIBLE EVENT? WHAT’S CRAZY IS WE BEGIN PLANNING FOR THIS EVENT IN JANUARY ALL YEAR. WE’RE SAVING THESE GIFTS. WE HAD A LOCAL TOY DRIVE ON FRIDAY THAT BROUGHT IN A THOUSAND OF THESE GIFTS FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. SO WHAT A WAY TO PARTNER WITH JUST INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET CHRISTMAS FOR EVERY FAMILY IN THE COMMUNITY. ALL RIGHT, JASON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. WE DO HAVE SOME INFORMATION ON OUR SCREEN, BECAUSE YOU TOLD US EARLIER THAT ANYONE WHO IS IN NEED CAN STOP BY TODAY. DOORS OPEN AT 11. IT’S HAPPENING AT THE MODESTO GOSPEL MISSION. AN