Rescue Mission serves up hot meals and hope

Mona Shield Payne / Special to the Sun

Homeless for 14 months, Jennifer Chiaverini, 36, smiles upon receiving a hot Thanksgiving meal Wednesday night during the annual community dinner at the Las Vegas Rescue Mission.

By Tiffany Gibson

Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009 | 3:03 a.m.

Rescue Mission dinner

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On the eve of Thanksgiving, hundreds of people gathered at the Las Vegas Rescue Mission for a free meal.

Some people sat on sidewalks bundled up in donated coats, while others enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving meal of turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce in the dining hall.

James Laurin of Las Vegas said the meal was excellent. He said he recently lost his job at a warehouse and has been living in shelters because his tendonitis prevents him from working. The event always provides quality food and a place for people to turn to, he said.

Chris Odle, volunteer coordinator for the Las Vegas Rescue Mission, said the facility has been hosting the community dinner since 1970.

This year, he said, Wal-Mart donated 1,000 pairs of socks to be handed out, along with T-shirts, hygiene products and blazers donated by the community.

“They are getting the stuff we take for granted,” Odle said. “Their level of gratitude is unimaginable. They are all very grateful.”

Odle said volunteers from several organizations helped serve dinner this year, including Wells Fargo and AT&T employees.

Wells Fargo volunteers Erin Henlin, 28, and Nicole Traughber, 30, said this is their first year volunteering at the community dinner.

Traughber said she enjoyed serving dinner and doesn’t need acknowledgment for her services.

“I don’t even need them to say anything,” Traughber said. “This is the first substantial meal they’ve probably had in a long time.”

Mrs. Nevada, April Swartz, also volunteered at the dinner. Swartz said more people should lend a helping hand throughout the year, especially with Nevada’s high homeless rate.

Pastor Jeff Chaves said the community dinner is different than other meals the center provides because volunteers actually serve the diners instead of having them wait in line.

In addition, he said, the center held its annual turkey giveaway on Saturday, which provided 1,500 turkeys to working-poor families.

Billy Millsap, 25, from Arkansas said he was living on the streets for six months before he had interest in a recovery program. He said he lived on D Street near the center until one day a deacon at his church encouraged him to look into shelters.

Besides providing meals, Chaves said, the Las Vegas Rescue Mission offers a 12-step substance-abuse recovery program that allows people to get back on their feet.

Millsap said he attended the community dinner to try to convince others to stop living on the streets and look into recovery programs.