What will you be most thankful for this Thanksgiving? Family? Friends? Your health?
This Thanksgiving may look a bit differently than in years past. There may be fewer hugs and handshakes, but at the heart of the holiday, one thing still holds true—it is still a time of thankfulness and gratitude. As you join your family around the table to celebrate this special season, know the men, women, and children who seek refuge at Nashville Rescue Mission are thankful for you. You are the reason they can enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal served with love and compassion. You are the reason they have a safe place to sleep. You are the reason they have access to case management and recovery programs. Your generosity makes all of this possible.
Meals, Lots of Meals
This year, the Mission will serve more than 5,000 meals during this Thanksgiving holiday, meeting the needs of homeless and hungry men, women, and children in the community. Preparing this much food is no easy task. The grocery list is enormous and includes 12,000 pounds of turkey; 5,000 dinner rolls; 1,000 pounds of potatoes; 100 gallons of gravy; 600 pounds of dressing, and 800 pounds of green beans. “A lot of work goes into preparing for the Thanksgiving holiday at the Mission,” shared Billy Eldridge, Senior Director of Operations. “It requires a tremendous amount of planning and effort. But it’s a day we look forward to all year long because the rewards of blessing someone who is in need and has no other place to go with a delicious, Thanksgiving meal makes it so worth it.”
More Than A Meal
At Nashville Rescue Mission, it is not uncommon to hear the phrase, “Hope starts with a meal.” For the man who hasn’t eaten in a few days or the mother with her two kids who have been living in her car, this Thanksgiving may be a painful reminder of the things that have been lost this past year. So many have lost jobs, houses, relationships, and even family members. In times like this, it’s hard to find hope. “Thanksgiving is more than just another holiday at Nashville Rescue Mission,” says President and CEO, Glenn Cranfield. “While the focus is on the meal, this day is also about compassion and community. The meal is only the beginning. I can think of no better way to show the homeless and hurting the love of Jesus Christ, than through serving them a meal, offering them a smile, and treating them with grace and dignity. It’s more than just a meal—it’s a gift of hope.” Your gift of support this Thanksgiving does so much more than provide meals to those in need. Your generosity transforms these meals into hope—for the homeless man, for the single mom escaping domestic violence, for the man battling addiction—a meal becomes hope for a better life and opens the door to a world of possibilities.
“I can think of no better way to show the homeless and hurting the love of Jesus Christ, than through serving them a meal, offering them a smile, and treating them with grace and dignity.” -Glenn Cranfield
Thankful For YOU
“Thanksgiving is a special day to me,” shared Darrel, a participant in the Mission’s Life Recovery Program. “There was a time in my life when I had all the things money could buy. I don’t have anything now. I lost my job, my car, my money—I even lost my family. Losing everything put things into perspective for me. Being away from home during Thanksgiving is hard. But there is so much love and compassion at the Mission; it is almost like being home. It’s given me hope for my future and I’m so thankful.” At a time when things feel so far from normal, there is still so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. You are one of the things the Mission is most grateful for this year. Your support is a blessing to us and those we serve. Thank you for your generosity
