Aleene & Hazel Pearson (Williams)

LOS OSOS, CA – Sunday morning – Well, last weekend rolled into this weekend very quickly!  Brian and family left last Sunday  just as I was leaving to take granddaughter Savannah back to boarding school (she’s been on semester break) and I thought it would be a perfect time to go visit Mom who lives about 2-1/2 hours away. She had been having computer challenges — or so she said — she is really doing quite well on her computer skills since she just got a  computer — at age 85!

We decided to go into the Los Angeles area last Monday to visit Hazel Pearson Willliams who just turned 95. Here’s a picture that I took of Aleene and Hazel during their visit! (Mom would like everyone to know that since last Monday, she has had a haircut and now sports a cute-chic short hair-do.) Did you know that Hazel and Aleene started their separate businesses around the same time back in the 1940’s. They were friendly business rivals and have remained friends all these years. Hazel has even lived in the same house for 60 years.  It was a wonderful visit and amazing what this 95-year old does with her time every day for the past 11+ years. She and members of her church put together shoe boxes with toys, school supplies, socks, anything that will fit and sends these boxes to kids in need in the Phillipines. The first year she sent 400 boxes and last year she sent over 4,ooo. (Now they have started to send larger items in bigger boxes.) Each shoe box is wrapped with gift wrap paper by a volunteer. Hazel does all the co-ordinating for all the supplies to arrive in time for packing. Some things are donated and other items she finds at amazing prices.  She receives letters from all the people that she sends to and she writes backs to each and every one. Her office is at her dining room table. Her garage is full of supplies that are awaiting sorting. Her patio is full of items going in the big boxes – slightly used shoes, small tvs, jackets, and she tells me one of the missionaries is starting to teach sewing, and needs sewing machines.  I am totally in awe of this lady. Wow!! 

Well, we were able to pull her away for a lunch at one of our old favorites ‘ North Woods Inn’  in San Gabriel. With yummy cheese bread and amazing red cabbage salad we enjoyed our feast.  We delivered Hazel back to her busy outpost and sat on her patio with her for awhile. (I use to play on this very patio as a small child!!!) We also checked out the  orchids growing all over her yard ( she says they just grow… she doesn’t do anything to them), then we had to say goodbye for now.  It was fun seeing Mom and Hazel together again. It was a wonderful visit. >>Love Heidi

(P.S. If someone reading this post would like to donate to Hazel’s Shoe Boxes. Just let us know,we will put you in touch with this amazing project.)