Last week a beloved, long standing volunteer passed away after a battle with illness at the age of 34. Hannia Marisol Hudec consistently served love most Sundays (only absent when her health prevented her presence - although that never stopped her weekly donations) at our beverage station. She eagerly connected with guests, prayed over them and personally provided donations of clothing and other items directly to individuals in need - often privately. Even before CoVID, and each week since, Hannia has donated directly to the dinner as well with our guests favorite drinks, puddings, and paper supplies we needed to operate. Truly, this generous act continued even while she was intubated in the hospital, and even now, her family is bringing items from Hannia’s home that she can't bring over herself.
Each year, on her birthday she would bring gifts for the guests, enough cake to share, and tell her friends and family the best gift she could ask for was gift cards to support the Serve Love dinner. Hannia understood what Christ taught in Matthew 25:31-40... We saw her spend every Sunday among the “least of these brothers and sisters of Christ." She was truly exemplary for her dedication to this community, going beyond providing for basic needs of hunger and thirst... She met the greatest need any of us will ever experience: Christ-like love.
Many of us at Pacific Beach Presbyterian didn't get the chance to really know Hannia, but those who did knew her to be an exceedingly warm, abundantly kind, and a prayer warrior for the marginalized. Her legacy at Serve Love isn't just an example, but an ideal for all of us to strive for. Hannia will be missed, but we look forward to sharing with her all the ways she inspired us when we all meet again.
The Serve Love team and guests