“No one should go hungry, at Thanksgiving or any other day,” said Rev. Glenn Cranfield, president and CEO of Nashville Rescue Mission.
Open Doors
“Especially in a country as great as ours. And with the support of such a generous community, the Mission is making sure that no one in Nashville goes hungry this Thanksgiving,” said Cranfield. “Our doors are open to anyone who is need of help and hope. We welcome them with open arms and are saving a seat for them at our table.”
Much like you might eat at home, the Thanksgiving meal at the Mission includes all the traditional fixings of turkey, dressing, green beans, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce, served with sweet tea, and a slice of pie. Volunteers are a big part of the celebration as they arrive early to help with preparing and cooking the meals, but they also make the day extra special by carrying the trays of the guests and escorting them to their table. On this day, guests of the Mission truly are the guests of honor.
Thanksgiving Hope
“Thanksgiving is an extraordinary holiday at Mission,” said Cranfield. “We want each guest to know their life matters regardless of the situation or circumstance that brought them here. We want them to know that good people like you still care about them. Your support of the Mission gives the men, women, and children experiencing homelessness in our community access to meals, clothing, shelter, but more importantly—it gives them hope.”
It is also a day of thankfulness. While the prayers shared around your table might be thanking God for blessings such as a new job, good health, a special relationship, or even an improved financial situation– the prayers around the table at the Mission are more likely to be offering thanks for necessary things like having a safe place to sleep, a hot meal to eat, or even a chance to start over again.
Take Ken for example. Ken recently graduated from the Mission’s Life Recovery Program and is thankful for a multitude of things. But the one blessing that stands out from the rest–the opportunity he now has to attend college and further his career.
“Nashville Rescue Mission has given me a lot of reasons to be grateful this Thanksgiving,” said Ken. “I came to the Mission with nothing but the clothes on my back. I was beaten down and about as low as a person could go. Not only did they make sure I had something to eat, a safe place to sleep, they also extended love and acceptance to me despite the state I was in. I received encouragement, training, counseling, and education while in the Mission’s program. I found hope at the Mission, and I now have hope for my future. They helped me see that God put me here for a reason and that my life has purpose and meaning. I’m now enrolled in college classes with a plan to become a counselor. I want to be able to help people like I was helped when I came to the Mission.”
Your Gift Provides Transformation
Hope is a powerful thing. It can change people. It can change lives. Nashville Rescue Mission provides hope by offering shelter to the homeless, feeding the hungry, inspiring life-long learning, and encouraging a personal relationship with God to everyone who walks through the doors. Many come seeking a hot meal and are greeted by a loving community, and here they find hope for a better tomorrow.
“We couldn’t do what we do without the support of generous donors, committed volunteers, and faithful staff,” said Cranfield. “Each plays a valuable role in the ministry of the Mission. In some cases, our ministry starts with a meal… and sometimes that meal is the one served on Thanksgiving. In the process of filling an empty stomach, it might also be the very thing that opens the door to other Mission services such as job training, counseling, recovery programs. In many cases, it’s often the start of a new and better life.”
Ken is just one of the thousands of the people your support allows the Mission to serve. He is an excellent example of how a meal, a piece of clothing, a coat, a pair of shoes…goes a long way in opening a heart and preparing a mind for the life transformation that awaits them if they are willing to take that next step, as Ken did. Your gift today makes this a possibility for so many others, much like Ken, who come to the Mission in need of help and hope.
Thank you for giving. Your generosity gives hope.
Ken is just one of many men who have found help and hope at Nashville Rescue Mission. Your gift today will help us serve even more.
With your help, these men can overcome their past and walk into a brand new future.
