> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Not your average run of the mill holiday party - URL: https://www.smdp.com/not-your-average-run-of-the-mill-holiday-party/ - Published: 2002-12-25T16:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T01:11:31.000Z - Author: Carolyn Sackariason - Tags: Events, Ocean Park, #archive-import, Homeless, Homelessness *Company spreads good cheer by serving homeless* A local stockbroker firm last week diverted from the traditional Christmas party of cocktails and appetizers at a ritzy hotel to serving the homeless in Santa Monica. About 30 employees of CBIC Oppenheimer spent last Friday serving hot food to Santa Monica’s homeless, as well as giving them presents they can use — backpacks with basic necessities like toothpaste and rain ponchos. It was the Ocean Park Community Center’s annual holiday party and Oppenheimer spent between $5,000 and $10,000 putting it on. “We all get caught up in our own lives and we have so much and these people have nothing at all,” said David Fahey, a manager with Oppenheimer. “It’s our opportunity to give them a hot meal and give them presents that are useful on the street and this is probably the only party they’ll have this year.” Oppenheimer’s Christmas parties of the past are like many corporations — they are limited to only employees and thousands of dollars are spent on drinks and food that lasts for a couple of hours. But this year, the company’s money went much further. Hundreds lined up in the parking lot of the OPCC on the corner of Seventh Street and Colorado Avenue to get jolly — complete with live music, hot food and warm cheer. “It’s the only place where people can get together like this,” said Sidney Porter, who recently moved off the streets and into his own apartment in Los Angeles with the help of OPCC. For Daniela Greene, who celebrated her 30th birthday serving food, it was the best Christmas party she’s been to. And she said her co-workers feel the same way. She is a sales assistant to an Oppenheimer stock broker. “It’s so much better than the other ones,” she said. “Everyone thinks this was the best Christmas party we’ve done. At the other ones, you can’t bring your spouse, but you have cocktails and have fru fru cocktails.” > “Everyone thinks this was the best Christmas party we’ve done. At the other ones, you can’t bring your spouse, but you have cocktails and have fru fru cocktails.” — — DANIELA GREENE Volunteer The Ocean Park Community Center, one the largest and oldest homeless shelters in Santa Monica, is almost at capacity, handling up to 300 people a day who come for a daily meal, groceries, clothes or a place to sleep. Santa Monica is not alone in experiencing an influx of homeless — communities across the country are finding the homeless population increase. The New York Times recently reported that homelessness has increased a fifth across America. 3C5,“In these days, when everybody is so overwhelmed and helpless asking “what can we do?” In our communities we can make a difference,” said Christina Erteszek, one of 278 volunteers at the access center. “It’s not that we want to be a band aid but a continuum of care.” The OPCC was founded in 1963 and started as a grassroots, volunteer organization to provide assistance to the growing number of homeless and working poor congregating in the Ocean Park neighborhood. OPCC is funded partially by the city, state and federal government, as well as by individual donations. In the past four decades, OPCC has grown from a small program at the Church at Ocean Park on Hill Street with a few volunteers to a network of shelters and services that serve more than 12,000 people annually throughout Los Angeles County. Its budget is $5 million annually and has 110 staff personnel for all of its services. The access center employees about 15 full-time staff members. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/122502-01_01.jpg) Employees of CBIC Oppenheimer spent their office holiday party serving hot meals to Santa Monica’s homeless at the Ocean Park Community Center. (Photo: Carolyn Sackariason/Daily Press) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/122502-01_03.jpg) In addition to hot meals, CBIC Oppenheimer employees hand out backpacks containing basic necessities (above). (Photo: Carolyn Sackariason/Daily Press) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/122502-01_04.jpg) In addition to hot meals, CBIC Oppenheimer employees hand out backpacks containing basic necessities (above). (Photo: Carolyn Sackariason/Daily Press) *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 25, 2002.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/122502.pdf?ref=smdp.com)