Easter at Los Angeles Mission: Volunteers provide meals, shoes

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The Los Angeles Mission is celebrating Easter a little early by serving meals and handing out shoes to the less fortunate on Friday.

Volunteers were awake early to serve breakfast to the homeless. They were expected to provide close to 4,000 meals starting at 11 a.m.

Johnnetta Tripplett is doing her part to make mealtime a feast for all the senses.

Tripplett was homeless when she came to the L.A. Mission in 2000. She enrolled in the shelter's rehabilitation program and graduated in 2002.

Now, she works for the Mission and provides beautiful flower arrangements on Christmas, Easter and other special occasions.

Mission volunteers are also handing out shoes provided by Etnies. The shoe company is hoping to give out more than 2,000 pairs.

"We've been giving shoes for the past 18 years. Last 10 years, we've been doing it consistently at the Easter event," said James Appleby, Etnies brand director. "To give them a little lift and try and get them back on their feet and off the streets."