My Mother, Louise Pennartz started an organization called Wings of Peace on April 4, 1995. During the past 16 plus years they have served from 45 "guests" to the present of 450 and more each Tuesday in Glendale. Wings is a 100% volunteer and runs on donations only with the help of St. Vincent de Paul and the Harvest Corporation. My Mom and Dad buy all of the supplies and all donations are put into the program. Clothing and personal items are given out as needed and the "guests" are always served with peace, respect and dignity, no questions are asked and there is no financial level, everyone is welcomed. My Mother and our family are currently having a difficult time with my twin brother losing his life to pancreatic cancer. He has told Mom to keep helping make the Wings "guests" comfortable with everything they can do for them and she does this even though her heart is breaking. Mom has never used the word poor or hate and this is part of welcoming those in need in the community. Please consider my Mother with this award. Thank you and Peace to all. Sonia Clay To learn more about how you can personally help Louise serve the community through donations and volunteer time, visit http://wingsofpeace.webs.com/. Wings of Peace started the road to reality when I had a recurring dream in Nov 1994. The dream had a crystal blue sky, a bird and a voice like James Earl Jones telling me that if I helped the people I would be helped. This may sound corny but I have MS and was having a very difficult time realizing that I was not independent any more as I had always been. I started researching my area and found out that there was no open food kitchen serving free food to anyone who was hungry. I asked alot of questions and met with St Vincent de Paul administrators and was told they would help me if I proved to be reliable and found a place to serve. I did this with the help of a friend and we opened on April 4, 1995 serving 45 "guests" for that day. Now 16 plus years later we serve 450 and more each Tuesday, we have new "guests" come in every week and clothing and personal items are available to give out that have been donated. I am personally blessed to work with a great group of "angels " and the guests who come from all walks of life to share their time with us each "Wings Tuesdays" as we are called in the west valley. Wings is opened to anyone who is hungry, we do not ask questions or have a financial level and everyone is served with peace, respect and dignity. We are 100% volunteer and exist on donations with everything going directly into the program. With the economy being as it is we have survived with the grace of God and with little donations the past couple of years. We continue to have that last serving for any late comers and are able to share whatever is left for take outs. We observe every holiday and have served on the past 16 Thanksgiving Days. The Easter bunny comes the week of Easter with gifts for all as well as Santa with gifts at Christmas. The past two Christmas's we served over 900 guests and everyone received at least two gifts. To view a video of Wings, please go to: LostDogProductions.com on you tube and look for Wings of Peace Glendale. Thank you and my you Always have love, peace and Happiness. Louise Pennartz

Signed,
Sonia Clay