Divorce turned Clar’s world upside down. Just like that, she had no home. But support from caring friends and donors ensured she received a meal, safe shelter, and a warm welcome here at Nashville Rescue Mission.

“I stayed out on the streets one night,” Clar says, shaking her head at the terrible memory. “That’s an experience I don’t ever want to experience again. You don’t know what it’s like to be homeless or staying on the street, and you don’t want to,” she shares . . .

“I was scared. I stayed up all night. I did not sleep.”

The terror of that night drove Clar to remember a place that had always been there for people like her.

“I’ve known about the Mission since I was a little girl,” Clar says. “I knew I could come to the Mission and at least have a bed and meals, where I could be safe and nobody would harm me.”

Still, it was tough for Clar to find the courage to walk through the Mission doors that first time.

“I was terrified because I never experienced homelessness until that day when I realized ‘I’m homeless.’ But the lady that I met when I walked through the door said, ‘Hi, sweet baby, how are you doing?’ The look on her face was motherly love, and I just started bawling. She said, ‘Honey, it’s okay. I know how you’re feeling, but it’s going to be okay. You’re safe.’”

Nashville Rescue Mission is always a very special place during Christmas, a time when we seize every opportunity to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Clar was so comforted by the beauty of the decorations and the warmth of all the staff, volunteers, and guests who went out of their way to make sure every man, woman, and child was immersed in the joy of Christmas.

“I enjoyed Christmas. The Mission gives out gifts to the women and children, and churches come by, and there’s a dinner,” Clar says, remembering how special she felt.

“It was wonderful. We really enjoyed ourselves,” she says. Because—even if it was only for that day, “We had a good time, and could just forget that we’re homeless.”

“Nashville Rescue Mission is a good place to be. If you have no clothes, they give you clothes.”

“The streets, they’re nothing to play with,” Clar says. “It’s dangerous for women, for children, even for the men. There are dangers out here and one night, it got down to 32 degrees outside. I’m thankful. I really am, each and every day, I’m thankful that I’m not going to be out there.”

Thank you for your prayers and partnership with Nashville Rescue Mission. Together, we are feeding neighbors who are hungry and sheltering those with no home . . . but we’re also giving neighbors like Clar access to programs and services that promote healing by focusing on the entire person’s physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, and social needs.