11th Annual Rescue Mission BBQ for the Homeless

BBQ Dinner Being Served by Volunteers & Staff

By Bonnie Carroll

The Santa Barbara Rescue Mission held it’s 11th Annual 4th of July BBQ dinner for homeless guests in the Rescue Mission parking lot at 535 East Yanonali Street, where 71 members of the Women’s Auxiliary provided colorful decorations and raffle prizes for attending guests. Men in the Mission’s 12-month Residential Recovery Program, along with volunteers cooked and presented a delicious patriotic style dinner with all the trimmings for guests enjoyment. 

The hamburgers and hotdogs with a choice of beverages were all enjoyed by guests, as well as a selection of great gift options for winners of the special live raffle. Entertainment was provided by Rolf Geyling’s sons Wilson and Max Geyling who performed all afternoon.

Rolf Geyling, president of the Rescue Mission said “The beaches get so crowded that our homeless neighbors who often spend their days and nights on the sand are pushed off the shoreline and left with nowhere to go. We decided 11 years ago to create a place for them to spend the holiday.”

The Mission is celebrating a twelve million dollar renovation of the men’s and women’s areas this month that will provide additional beds, including needed separate living space for women guests. 

The Santa Barbara Rescue Mission is the only local agency providing overnight summer shelter to the homeless, along with other emergency services and life-changing recovery programs. Every year, the Rescue Mission provides over 140,000 meals and more than 45,000 safe nights of shelter for individuals with no place else to turn.

About Santa Barbara Rescue Mission
Established in 1965, this 501(c)(3) organization brings physical, emotional, educational and spiritual resources to those in need. It is the only organization between Oxnard and Santa Maria that provides hot meals and accommodations to homeless guests 365 days of the year. It operates the longest and largest drug and alcohol treatment program on California’s Central Coast. The Mission offers men’s and women’s 12-month residential recovery, family support, relapse prevention, men’s sober living, academic instruction, job skills training. Its residential drug and alcohol program has won regional and national recognition for its extraordinary effectiveness. The Santa Barbara Rescue Mission receives no government funding. For additional information visit: www.sbrm.org.