OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KOKH) — A local shelter wants to make sure nobody goes without a traditional Christmas meal.
City Rescue Mission told FOX 25 about 800 to 1,000 meals are typically handed out, which means preparation starts days before.
City Rescue Mission is a housing focused shelter in Oklahoma City.
“What that means is anyone that comes in we want to help them with income and housing and we want to get them housed as quickly as possible,” said Skyler Parker, Vice President of Client Services for City Rescue Mission. “So, it’s a little different than what people might think of as a shelter. People live here. They stay on site. We don’t ask them to leave during the day. They can stay all night and during the day. We just ask that they work on income and housing and we have men, women and families that stay here.”
Parker said this year City Rescue Mission housed 785 people.
On Christmas Day, staff and volunteers hand out traditional meals to City Rescue Mission clients and others in the community.
“It’s just a great time for the community to connect with our clients. People can come and volunteer. They typically kind of take over at a table, and they’re allowed to serve the clients at that table and then they just kind of hang out with the clients and get to know them,” Parker said.
Jazmin Castro has been at City Rescue Mission since July after getting out of a domestic violence situation.
“City Rescue Mission gave me a place to stay here, and I’m grateful for that,” Castro said.
Castro told FOX 25 although it was an emotional day, it was nice to share a meal with friends.
“This is my first Christmas without my family, but I have girls here that are family to me and the staff at City Rescue Mission, they are so kind here,” Castro said.
City Rescue Mission also provided an opportunity for parents to shop for Christmas presents for their kids on Monday.