Today, people in need of Christmas spirit and a hot holiday meal are lined up for the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission’s annual yuletide feast. Steaming hot food of the holiday variety-such as stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and, of course, turkey-is being heaped up for many of Santa Barbara’s homeless men, women, and children. Helping are the Mission staff and more than 60 volunteers. The dining hall is filling with people, and the air is resonating with conversations and good holiday cheer.
“We are usually overloaded with volunteers,” said Rolf Geyling, Rescue Mission president. “People just want to help the homeless for the holidays.” A volunteer and former Rescue Mission regular explained why he was helping out: “I learned how to deal with life,” Dunlop said. “They taught me how to live my life.”
This year the Rescue Mission dining room may look a little different than it did in years past. Instead of cafeteria-style seating and buffet service, the staff has set tables with ribbon-wrapped plastic ware and baskets of rolls, and the buffet is nixed in favor of table service. The servers are even asking diners whether they would like white meat or dark.