Frontline Foundation

It is the one thing Ray Castellani hoped never to say to the Skid Row bums he calls brothers: Goodby. But after five years of feeding the forlorn and the forgotten, serving love with every egg salad sandwich, Castellani's Frontline Foundation is out of money and Castellani is damn near out of hope. "I feel, I feel alone," said Castellani, himself a recovered alcoholic whose drinking and bad luck has landed him on Skid Row more than once in his 60 years. "I'm tired."

A cash donation from a storage rental company on Tuesday saved an organization that provides free meals for the homeless on skid row from having to close its kitchen. Glendale-based Public Storage Inc. bought the property next to its Van Nuys warehouse four months ago, forcing the Frontline Foundation to find a new home. The foundation operates on a shoestring budget of $40,000 a year, funded mainly by donors who give $3 to $10 each a month.

I was thrilled to see public awareness brought to Ray Castellani, Noreen Goldner and the Frontline Foundation. I have volunteered for Frontline for almost two years. This quiet little group has done so much. Castellani has one focus, and that is to end hunger on Skid Row. He doesn't try to change anybody, rehabilitate anyone or save those he serves. He just wants to see their stomachs filled. I would like to comment on a few points the missions stated--that litter is left behind after our servings and that problems arise because of the Frontline Foundation food line.

Without fanfare, Ray Castellani's Frontline Foundation will deliver meal number 500,000 today to the homeless of Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles. The milestone represents the power of human caring and volunteerism, Castellani said Wednesday. "It's not just the food," said the 63-year-old former Skid Row resident, whose nonprofit food kitchen is based in Van Nuys. "It's the understanding, the compassion."

Nearly a year ago, Ray Castellani was ready to call it quits. The former actor's nonprofit mobile soup kitchen, called the Frontline Foundation, had nearly run out of money and Castellani was forced to cut paid staff. But help from celebrities such as Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, producer of the television show "Designing Women," contributions from schools and businesses and a $1,400 anonymous gift kept the organization alive.

A cash donation from a storage rental company on Tuesday saved an organization that provides free meals for the homeless on skid row from having to close its kitchen. Glendale-based Public Storage Inc. bought the property next to its Van Nuys warehouse four months ago, forcing the Frontline Foundation to find a new home. The foundation operates on a shoestring budget of $40,000 a year, funded mainly by donors who give $3 to $10 each a month.

Former actor, drunk and Skid Row denizen Ray Castellani leaves tomorrow for Washington, D.C., and a meeting Thursday with President Clinton in the White House Rose Garden. Castellani will be one of 18 Americans honored with a Presidential Service Award during National Volunteer Week. Castellani, a 61-year-old resident of Tarzana, is the founder and driving force behind the San Fernando Valley-based Frontline Foundation, begun in 1987 to feed men and women on Skid Row.

During the past two years, Ray Castellani's white pickup truck had become a fixture of sorts on the ever-changing, hopeless streets of Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles. Three times each week he parked the truck at the corner of 5th and San Pedro streets and used the pickup's tailgate as a makeshift sandwich bar from which he fed hundreds of the homeless men and women who call him "Papa." But no more.

Touched by the story of Ray Castellani, the man whose efforts to feed the homeless were jeopardized when his truck was stolen this week, a radio station Friday presented him with a brand new pickup and others offered everything from imported gourmet coffees to free gasoline.

Without fanfare, Ray Castellani's Frontline Foundation will deliver meal number 500,000 today to the homeless of Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles. The milestone represents the power of human caring and volunteerism, Castellani said Wednesday. "It's not just the food," said the 63-year-old former Skid Row resident, whose nonprofit food kitchen is based in Van Nuys. "It's the understanding, the compassion."

Former actor, drunk and Skid Row denizen Ray Castellani leaves tomorrow for Washington, D.C., and a meeting Thursday with President Clinton in the White House Rose Garden. Castellani will be one of 18 Americans honored with a Presidential Service Award during National Volunteer Week. Castellani, a 61-year-old resident of Tarzana, is the founder and driving force behind the San Fernando Valley-based Frontline Foundation, begun in 1987 to feed men and women on Skid Row.

Nearly a year ago, Ray Castellani was ready to call it quits. The former actor's nonprofit mobile soup kitchen, called the Frontline Foundation, had nearly run out of money and Castellani was forced to cut paid staff. But help from celebrities such as Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, producer of the television show "Designing Women," contributions from schools and businesses and a $1,400 anonymous gift kept the organization alive.

It is the one thing Ray Castellani hoped never to say to the Skid Row bums he calls brothers: goodby. But after five years of feeding the forlorn and the forgotten, serving love with every egg salad sandwich, Castellani's Frontline Foundation is out of money and Castellani is nearly out of hope. "I feel, I feel alone," said Castellani, a recovering alcoholic whose drinking and bad luck landed him on Skid Row more than once in his 60 years. "I'm tired."

It is the one thing Ray Castellani hoped never to say to the Skid Row bums he calls brothers: Goodby. But after five years of feeding the forlorn and the forgotten, serving love with every egg salad sandwich, Castellani's Frontline Foundation is out of money and Castellani is damn near out of hope. "I feel, I feel alone," said Castellani, himself a recovered alcoholic whose drinking and bad luck has landed him on Skid Row more than once in his 60 years. "I'm tired."

I was thrilled to see public awareness brought to Ray Castellani, Noreen Goldner and the Frontline Foundation. I have volunteered for Frontline for almost two years. This quiet little group has done so much. Castellani has one focus, and that is to end hunger on Skid Row. He doesn't try to change anybody, rehabilitate anyone or save those he serves. He just wants to see their stomachs filled. I would like to comment on a few points the missions stated--that litter is left behind after our servings and that problems arise because of the Frontline Foundation food line.

Touched by the story of Ray Castellani, the man whose efforts to feed the homeless were jeopardized when his truck was stolen this week, a radio station Friday presented him with a brand new pickup and others offered everything from imported gourmet coffees to free gasoline.

It is the one thing Ray Castellani hoped never to say to the Skid Row bums he calls brothers: goodby. But after five years of feeding the forlorn and the forgotten, serving love with every egg salad sandwich, Castellani's Frontline Foundation is out of money and Castellani is nearly out of hope. "I feel, I feel alone," said Castellani, a recovering alcoholic whose drinking and bad luck landed him on Skid Row more than once in his 60 years. "I'm tired."

A fund-raiser for Frontline Foundation, which serves free meals to hungry people, will be held Sunday at an Encino restaurant. Since its founding in 1987, the nonprofit organization has distributed more than 460,000 meals on Skid Row, in Hollywood and in Pasadena. The benefit brunch--including pastas, baked Italian foods, omelets, salads and desserts--will begin at noon Sunday at Maria's Italian Kitchen, 16608 Ventura Blvd. Cost is $20 per person. For reservations, call (818) 508-4419.

During the past two years, Ray Castellani's white pickup truck had become a fixture of sorts on the ever-changing, hopeless streets of Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles. Three times each week he parked the truck at the corner of 5th and San Pedro streets and used the pickup's tailgate as a makeshift sandwich bar from which he fed hundreds of the homeless men and women who call him "Papa." But no more.