Your own Thanksgiving is more meaningful when you help others

This Thanksgiving you can help welcome more than 1,500 homeless and poor guests to San Diego Rescue Mission’s Great Thanksgiving Banquet. All that’s needed is compassionate support from friends like you to provide meals that help turn life around for people like Zack . . .

Honor in the service . . . dishonor at home

Against his family’s wishes, Zack joined the military. For 10 years after leaving home, he never contacted them. He assumed they were ashamed of his choice to turn his back on their dreams for his life, and serve in the military instead.

When this hardworking seaman was honorably discharged he had very little difficulty getting work. Still, he felt empty and isolated from the people he loved.

Zack admits that turning to drugs to help endure his loneliness was a mistake. He says, “Things began spiraling out of control. I would get my life back under control, then back into drugs. It was a vicious cycle.”

Zack lost job after job, and was finally homeless, broke and desperate for help. A friend led him to San Diego Rescue Mission, and here his life took a positive turnaround.

Forget what’s behind and move on

“Thanksgiving at the Mission is a time when hurting people can leave the negatives in their life behind, and thank God for the positives,” says Zack. “They stop focusing on their shame and take a step forward, building from there.” Recently, he’s spoken with his sister who assured him of her love, and that she’s just happy to know he’s alive and well!

You may wonder how much your Thanksgiving gift will do . . . “Every cent you give,” Zack declares, “is multiplied because of the good it does in people’s lives. Nothing is wasted.”

Please give a gift today to provide life-transforming Thanksgiving season meals. You’ll enjoy your own Thanksgiving celebrations more knowing you’re showing special care to neighbors in need.