Warm meals, coats, and caring volunteers support neighbors in need.

For many families, Thanksgiving means gathering around the dinner table, sharing favorite foods, remembering traditions, and expressing gratitude for loved ones. But for individuals experiencing homelessness, financial hardship, or isolation, the holiday can bring painful reminders of what is missing. This time of year offers a chance to share the spirit of Thanksgiving and warmly welcome neighbors in need.

The Mission at Kern County will host its annual Community Thanksgiving Meal on Thursday, November 26, beginning at 11 a.m. at its main campus, 821 East 21st St., Bakersfield. All are welcome to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal. The Mission will also distribute coats to guests who need them.

The Mission's Thanksgiving tradition has brought countless volunteers and community members together for many years. Volunteers can help prepare meals and serve, welcome guests, and assist with other activities that make the gathering warm and inviting.  A longtime volunteer, Timi Mongold has volunteered to serve with her family at every holiday meal The Mission offers.

“Serving at The Mission on Thanksgiving is a beautiful reminder that God calls us not only to be thankful for our blessings, but to be a blessing to others,” she says. “It is an honor and a privilege to share His love, extend grace, and remind every person we serve that they are seen, valued, and never forgotten.”

Guided by Christian faith and a commitment to serving people in need, The Mission supports individuals experiencing homelessness, hunger, and other life challenges. Its services go beyond immediate needs, including meals, overnight shelter, clothing, hygiene services, education, counseling, referrals, and other programs.

For more than seven decades, The Mission at Kern County has provided hope and assistance to people facing difficult circumstances. Founded in 1952 as the Bakersfield Rescue Mission, the faith-based nonprofit has developed programs that address immediate needs while helping individuals work toward recovery, stability, and independence.

Every contribution matters. A person's time, a donated coat, a food drive, or a financial gift can help someone through a difficult season and strengthen the network of support available throughout Kern County.

“We welcome the men, women, and children who come to The Mission longing for a safe place to call home and someone who cares,” says Carlos Baldovinos, Executive Director for The Mission at Kern County. “For nearly 75 years, The Mission has been a family to people facing hunger, homelessness, and addiction – offering not only a place to turn but hope for a new beginning. We’re deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve our community and for everyone who makes that care possible.”

While the annual Thanksgiving meal is a special tradition, it reflects a broader commitment to helping people meet immediate needs and work toward lasting stability. There are several ways to get involved: volunteer to help with meal service or other Mission programs; organize a food drive; make a financial contribution or provide needed items to help sustain the Mission's services; share information and connect people with The Mission's resources and encourage others to participate; and continue supporting people experiencing hunger and homelessness after the holiday season.

For information about volunteering or ways to help, please visit www.themissionkc.org or call 661-325-0863.


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