Santa Barbara Rescue Mission Holds Christmas Feast

On December 21, the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission held its annual Christmas Feast, where about 200 people in need were warmly greeted and seated in the Rescue Mission’s dining hall, which was festively decorated with a large Christmas tree, stockings on the walls, and red and green streamers criss-crossing the ceiling. Volunteers from Frank Schipper Construction and the Samarkand (employees and residents) acted as servers, so guests could have a restaurant-like experience. Men in the Rescue Mission’s Residential Recovery Program prepared the scrumptious feast, which included turkey, ham, and all the fixings.

After their dining experience, guests were invited to select from an assortment of gifts displayed in nearby rooms. The Women’s Auxiliary, a 65-member organization that actively supports the Rescue Mission throughout the year, had solicited donations of new and gently-used items from individuals and businesses. Each guest received one or two brand new items and several used items of their choosing. Most popular were shoes, jackets, sweatshirts, and blankets. For many of the guests, these will be the only gifts they receive. Many expressed their deep gratitude for the holiday meal and gifts of much-needed items.

The Rescue Mission, which provides both emergency shelter and a 12-month residential recovery program, is in the midst of a $10 million remodel of its 40,000 square foot East Yanonali Street facility. According to President Rolf Geyling, after being used for more than three million meals and 1.6 million stays since 1986, the Yanonali facility was in desperate need of repair. Just in the past year, the facility has had four critical plumbing issues and all the major building systems were in need of replacement.