Bay Area Rescue Mission helps thousands

Collection of canned goods ready for distribution inside The Bay Area Rescue Mission warehouse.

Every year, for the past 45 years the Bay Area Rescue Mission has rallied to help the homeless and hungry, said Steve Lee, 10-year program specialist for the charitable organization.

“In this area of Richmond there is a huge need, and as long as there is a need we will be here,” said Lee.

Longtime volunteer Maurice Robichaud preparing to distribute frozen turkeys to residents lined up at The Bay Area Rescue Mission.

During the holiday season The Rescue Mission distributed more than 25,000 meals in the community, said John Anderson, director of the Bay Area Rescue Mission.

Two days prior to Christmas the entrance to The Rescue Mission warehouse, off 2nd and Macdonald Avenue, was bustling with residents waiting to drop off donations.

The crowd favorite? Pineapples. One Richmond resident opted to only take fruit during the food distribution at The Bay Area Rescue Mission.

The long lines people waiting to receive those donations, wrapped around the entire length of the storage facility.

Inside, large cardboard barrels packed to capacity with canned goods and boxed food. A special section was dedicated to frozen turkeys across from an area where dozens of pastries and pineapples rested before being hauled off by volunteers.

During four sessions that started at 8 a.m., thousands of emergency food boxes were handed out to the community. In them: fruit, meat, vegetables and other essentials.

Resident loading one of dozens of free Christmas trees provided by The Bay Area Rescue Mission this holiday season. Trees were donated by Hilltop Christmas Tree Lot.

The surprise gift: free Christmas trees. Residents, who weren’t in line for emergency food, stopped by to load fresh Christmas trees unto their cars.

Lee said it’s always wonderful for a home to have a tree and added that their staff was pleased with the outpouring of support from the community.

“One of the biggest blessings we have is that we have been here for so long and people know we want to help out,” Lee said. “A lot of the time people are more willing to help out because they know we work really hard here to make a difference.”

How to help:
Donate online at the Mission’s website, www.BayAreaRescue.org. or call 510-215-4555. Donations may also be mailed to: Bay Area Rescue Mission, P.O. Box 1112, Richmond, CA 94802. Donations are tax-deductible.