VERO BEACH — For the homeless, receiving a hot meal from a shelter or some spare change from a passerby is often considered a good day. Homeless people generally do not expect to be celebrating the holidays in any traditional way, nor do they have the luxury of doing so.
But one local couple wanted to change that this Christmas season and decided to give a gift that would be one to remember. Dr. Walter Janke and his wife, Lalita, gave out Majestic Theatre movie tickets (that included a large privately booked room with free popcorn and drinks) to hundreds of homeless men, women and their children of local non-profit agencies such as Camp Haven, The Source, Samaritan Center, Homeless Family Center and Substance Awareness Center.
“The look of surprise and gratitude on their faces was priceless. My wife and I feel like we were the ones to really receive a gift that day. Many of these men and women are struggling to get back on their feet and restore some sense of normalcy. So for us to be able to give them that just for one night is a blessing,” said Dr. Janke.
Dr. and Mrs. Janke support non-profits and philanthropic work done locally and internationally through their non-profit organization, The Walter & Lalita Janke Charitable Foundation. Camp Haven, Hibiscus Children’s Center, Substance Awareness Council, USNC for UN Women, and Food Relief International are among the many organizations they actively support.
The Walter & Lalita Janke Charitable Foundation is dedicated to the education, empowerment and transformation of people and communities. It contributes to creating, strengthening and sustaining the good in people – advocating for the rights of women and youth and the eradication of violence and abuse to resolve conflicts. It supports people and projects that expand knowledge of spirit, mind and body through education and opportunities to perform compassionate acts of community service.
To learn more about The Walter and Lalita Janke Charitable Foundation, visit www.walterandlalitajankecharitablefoundation.org.