Dick Van Dyke regularly dishes up meals and laughs during Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter at The Midnight Mission shelter on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles.

"I had a little tussle with the demon rum," Van Dyke said, alluding to his own problem with alcohol abuse years ago. "I thought, 'I'll go down and do a little payback.' I was amazed - young people, mothers and a lot of kids. The place got under my skin and it's been a part of my life ever since."

Van Dyke volunteers for the major holiday meals, often just hanging out with the many homeless guests, giving hugs, posing for pictures and giving encouragement, hope and laughs. “It is amazing to watch him with our guests; he is so gracious and caring, laughing, talking and sharing and connecting” adds Orlando Ward, Director of Public Affairs. Mr. Van Dyke served as chairman of a fundraising campaign for a new Midnight Mission building.

"They take people and put them back on their feet and send them out as proud citizens," Van Dyke said. "It's the most rewarding thing I've ever done."