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Diner-mite
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Posted by lward Tue Dec 12, 2006 10:35:31 PST
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0 responses 0 comments Diners are often seen as quintessentially American, symbolizing the prosperity and optimism of the country at large.
In television and cinema, they are shown as the place where teenagers meet as an essential part of a date.
In Southwest Bakersfield, Dustin’s Diner has come to symbolize the generosity of the prosperous; a place where teens, pre-teens and adults meet as an essential part of the holidays.
On Dec. 15 at 6 p.m., Dustin’s will open for its 14th year in Haggin Oaks, selling apple cider, hot chocolate and two kinds of cookies for $1.  All sales benefit the Bakersfield Homeless Center.
“The Christmas spirit is alive and well in Haggin Oaks,” said Danielle Kilpatrick, whose son, Dustin, now 21 and a student at USC, launched the diner –– in the form of a sidewalk concession stand –– with brother Daniel in 1993 when he was 8, capitalizing on the huge crowds of people who came to see the neighborhood’s lavish light displays.
The first year the boys made $200. Last year, Dustin’s Diner brought in $18,000. Over the years it’s raised more than $100,000 for the center.
In the early years, the Kilpatricks spearheaded the effort and did all of the baking in their kitchen on Saint Cloud Lane.
Danielle held a kickoff party recently that raised $6,300 and will provide the cups and the Dustin’s Diner plywood stand, but today the rest of the coordinating is left to about 15 Haggin Oaks mothers, with help from organizations like St. Paul’s Church, the Girl Scouts, Kern County Moms, and Rotary. The families involved buy a portion of the ingredients for the sugar cookies (the eggs and oil are donated), which will be baked in the St. Paul’s kitchen. The chocolate chip dough is donated by Memorial Hospital, and the cookies are baked in the confection ovens at the homeless center. Other organizations and individuals have donated napkins, parchment paper and cookie wrappers. Families take turns “hosting” certain nights and are responsible for set up and take down.
“It is important because lives are affected and changed through the efforts of the community. This is one way to make a difference and help those who are in need of assistance,” said Tamara Hunt, whose house at the corner of Haggin Oaks and Saint Cloud serves as the “home base” of the operation. “All of the money raised goes directly to the homeless center and is used to help individuals who are trying to help themselves.”
Tamara and husband Roby moved to Haggin Oaks two years ago, and say they love the community feeling present in the neighborhood. Their four children are all involved in Dustin’s Diner.
Tamara said it is wonderful and heartwarming to see people come together for a wonderful cause.
“Imagine looking out your front door every evening and watching people drive up to donate money, and then seeing the look on a young child’s face at the $20 dollar bill that was placed in their hand,” said Tamara.
Neighbor and volunteer Kim Mishkind moved to Bakersfield from Florida three and a half years ago. Her daughter, Laura, now a seventh-grader at Tevis Junior High, heard about Dustin’s Diner at school her first year here and started helping. Last year she got angry at her mother when she had her stay home one night with the sniffles.
“She’s become very good at asking, ‘Can we keep the change?’” said Mishkind, who said our society has become so divided economically, religiously and politically that it is fulfilling to do something that brings people together.
“It’s everything wonderfully warm and fuzzy. It’s the essence of Christmas –– not the shopping or the craziness,” she said.
Laura said besides hanging out with her friends, her favorite part of Dustin’s Diner is counting the money, “because you realize how much you made a difference.”
“I do it to have that good feeling, you know, after you’ve helped somebody,” said Laura, whose mother has taken her on a tour of the shelter.
Bakersfield Homeless Center spokesperson Barbara Paulson said money raised through Dustin’s Diner helps to fulfill the basic needs –– in the form of toiletries, bedding, towels and more –– of the approximately 200 individuals –– mostly women and children –– who are housed by the shelter.
“We couldn’t survive without these types of fundraisers,” said Paulson. “We help residents save money so they can eventually live on their own and get a job and a house. We’re preventing further homelessness,”said Paulson, who said what people give during Christmas helps support the center for the whole year.
Dustin’s Diner organizer Donna Chaffee said about 800 cookies are sold each night. Chaffee said a lot of people donate more money than what they owe by letting sellers “keep the change.”
“A surprise to us was that people in ‘junky’-looking cars typically gave their change when the nicer cars didn’t,” said Chaffee.
Chaffee and other parents will deliver the money on the morning of Christmas Eve and the kids will get a tour of the shelter. 
“It is quite an experience for them to see how homeless people live and what has been done with the money in the past,” said Chaffee.

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