Thanksgiving is a time for people to come together, share a meal, and express their gratitude. But giving thanks can sometimes prove difficult, especially for those who are hungry or homeless.
Once again, two local organizations—the Central Coast Rescue Mission and San Luis Obispo’s K-Love affiliate, KLVH 88.5 FM—are teaming up to spread the holiday spirit to hundreds of poor and homeless Santa Marians.
“Often a simple meal, served in love, is the first step in helping someone deal with an addiction or get job training or an education,” Rev. Mark Parke, director of the Central Coast Rescue Mission and pastor of a church in Nipomo, said in an e-mail to the Sun.
The Central Coast Rescue Mission is part of the Rescue Mission Alliance, a nonprofit Christian organization that’s been providing food, shelter, and clothing across California for the past 30 years.
The mission began its ministry in Santa Maria in 1999 by serving free food to the homeless and needy during Thanksgiving and Christmas. That tradition is continuing this year with a Thanksgiving Banquet on Nov. 20 and a Christmas meal and toy giveaway on Dec. 18.
In a recent interview with the Sun, Parke said the need for the holiday banquets and other services is even greater now than in years past.
“We’re giving away more food boxes here [at the mission’s office on North McClelland] than ever before,” Parke explained. “Typically we give out about 75 boxes a month. Now we’re at over 100 a month.”
But just as people in the community are struggling to make ends meet, so is the mission.
“It can be a challenge sometimes,” Parke said. “We’re still having people faithfully give, so God is providing and the need is being met. The number of donations might actually be up, but the amount being given is down.”
Parke said Rescue Mission staff members and volunteers have been raising money for the event and getting turkeys donated so the Thanksgiving meal is provided for, but they’re still looking for help with the Christmas meal and other services.
On Nov. 24, K-Love 88.5 FM in San Luis Obispo will be helping the cause by airing its “Hope to the Hungry” Thanksgiving radio-thon. Money donated during the broadcast will go toward paying for the Rescue Mission’s holiday meals.
But the Rescue Mission isn’t the only organization getting help this holiday season.
“We’re going to be doing it on our entire network—all 400 stations,” said Mike Tedesco, K-Love’s director of national promotions.
Each station’s proceeds will go to a local community organization to feed people who are hungry, Tedesco explained, adding that since the campaign started 10 years ago, K-Love listeners have provided more than 1.5 million meals.
“It really fits into what we’re all about. We’re not just about giving stuff away, we’re about creating an experience for people,” he said. “If we’re not making a tangible difference, what are we here for?” m
Contact News Editor Amy Asman at aasman
@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Nov 19-26, 2009.
