FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 17, 2005

SAN DIEGO MAYOR JERRY SANDERS SERVES DINNER TO HOMELESS AT MISSION'S 50TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS BANQUET

SAN DIEGO - San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders was the honorary server at the San Diego Rescue Mission's 50th Annual Christmas Banquet for the homeless today. Nearly 800 of the region's homeless attended the dinner, which included glazed ham, sweet potatoes and a special dessert of panicotta with raspberry sauce and fresh mint created by celebrity chef Earl Schryver of the newly-opened Dussini restaurant in downtown.

"This has been my first opportunity to come down to the new [Rescue Mission] facility. I have to tell you they have improved the neighborhood by the cleanliness here, they have taken people off the street," said San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders. "We have traditionally had about 10,000 people on the streets in San Diego County. We need all the help we can get here. One of the things about San Diego is that the community takes care of each other. That's one of the themes here as we go through the holiday season and we can really see that here in what the Rescue Mission is doing for the community of San Diego."

The San Diego Rescue Mission doesn't accept tax money or funding from the government and is dependent on donations from individuals and corporations for its programs to help the homeless. This year the Rescue Mission celebrates 50 years of serving the homeless.

Sponsors for today's Christmas Banquet included Dussini's restaurant, Starbucks, and Ken and Wendy Mills, who provided toys for homeless children. Entertainment at the dinner was provided throughout the three-hour event by the Rescue Mission's own Men's Center Choir, a choir from Greater Victory Baptist Church and OB One Worship Band.

"The San Diego Rescue Mission survives on your donations and we are here to express the generosity of San Diegans and their caring for people on the street," said Jim Jackson, Rescue Mission president and CEO. "Christ was a gift to the world and this is our gift to San Diego."

The San Diego Rescue Mission offers emergency shelter for homeless women and children in addition to its comprehensive 12-month program that includes drug recovery and relapse prevention; job training and continuing education; and "One to One" counseling.

Individuals who wish to make donations or volunteer with the Rescue Mission should call 1-866-SD-MISSION or go to www.sdrescue.org.

ABOUT THE SAN DIEGO RESCUE MISSION
Every day, the lives of homeless men, women, and children are changed at the San Diego Rescue Mission. The Mission's long-term programs provide the physical necessities, vocational training, and spiritual encouragement needed to truly turn their lives around. The San Diego Rescue Mission prepares over 350,000 free meals and provides over 120,000 free nights of shelter each year, serving thousands of San Diego's homeless. For more information, visit www.sdrescue.org.

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