For those struggling, having a nutritious meal is often the first step to recovery and stabilizing their life.
The City Rescue Mission serves between 30,000-35,000 meals per year to men, women, and children in our community. In addition to daily meals for guests staying with us, the Mission also provides one hot meal a day that is free, and open to the community at our Croton Avenue facility.
While our Food Service ministry staff handles the daily nutritional needs of the Mission, occassionaly our guests are treated to something a little different and special: our Bring-A-Meal program, or BAM! for short.
BAM! is a program where local churches and groups prepare a specific meal of their choosing, bring it to the Mission, and serve lunch to our guests and the community. Mission staff is on hand to assist in whatever is needed.
"It's a rewarding program for both the volunteers and the guests", says Chief Operating Officer Angela Streckeisen. "It gives them an opportunity to serve people that they may not be able to serve otherwise and make connections with them."
The Mission has been blessed with four different BAM! days this spring:
- In March members of Sandy Lake Wesleyan Church treated our guests and the community to a delicious home cooked meal featuring Irish stew, fresh bread, salad, and cookies. They also decorated our kitchen and dining area to create a fun St. Patrick's Day feeling.
- April brought Grace United Methodist Church to the Mission and with them - ice cream! Along with delicious homemade lasagna, fresh salad, and garlic bread, guests were treated to an ice cream bar which proved to be an immediate hit.
- Plain Grove Presbyterian Church started May off on the right track with "breakfast for lunch" featuring French toast, and several different types of egg casseroles. These faithful friends of the Mission also brought along fresh fruit salad to top off the meal.
- Last but not least, Maitland Lane Free Methodist Church opted for "Thanksgiving in May" for their BAM! menu. Delicious turkey and gravy, mashed potatoes, corn and fresh bread provided a satisfying and filling homestyle meal with several types of cookies for dessert.
BAM! isn't just about the food though. It's about spreading God's love and seeing relationships being formed between the volunteers and guests.
"The guys love the variety they get when a BAM! group is here," says Art Holmes, Guest Advisor - Food Services, "and with the groups that have been here a few times you can see that they're getting to know the guests and that just gives it a family feel."
Is your church or group interested in participating in BAM!? If so, you can find out more at cityrescuemission.org/bam-bring-a-meal/ or you can call us at 724-652-4321.
