Published in the Santa Maria Times – November 26, 2016 (To read entire article CLICK HERE)

Those served during Monday’s Rescue Mission Alliance Central Coast annual free Thanksgiving banquet got more than turkey and all of the fixings; they were offered a serving of hope.

“We realize that this time of year, a lot of people are without hope. We really want to be able to share the hope that we’ve found in life with the city as well,” said Jon Bronkowski, Rescue Mission Alliance Central Coast program manager.

The Rescue Mission Alliance Central Coast, which provides services to area men and women in need of housing, food and moral support throughout the year, aimed to serve a few hundred people at the Santa Maria Fairpark.

“Our goal is to feed at least 800 people within the city of Santa Maria here today,” Bronkowski said Monday at the Fairpark.

The Thanksgiving banquet was open to anyone who could benefit from a free holiday meal.

“The Rescue Mission is all about reaching out to those that are hurting. A lot of times, people think that the Rescue Mission is all about the homeless, but it is also for those that are in poverty. Most of our program men are coming from the jail system. We are able to help them restore relationships with their families, get them job skills and rehabilitation from drugs and alcohol — that is a huge part of what we do,” Bronkowski said.

Santa Maria Mayor Alice M. Patino was on hand Monday to help spread the spirit of thanksgiving.

“It is so wonderful that people can come and have a meal together and enjoy the camaraderie. I want to thank all of the nonprofits and all of the local churches and the Rescue Mission for doing this,” she said.

Monday’s meal was made possible by public and private donations and with the help of volunteers.

Bronkowski said about 200 volunteers helped serve.

“We have volunteers from Starbucks, Coca-Cola, FedEx out here today. We have a lot of nonprofits, a lot of churches,” Bronkowski said.

Genae Sarver, Rescue Mission Alliance Central Coast’s volunteer coordinator, was responsible for organizing all of the people who came out to help.

Prior to Monday’s event, Sarver held a brief volunteer orientation.

“I said, ‘Look around. You all came from different groups, but today you are all one group.’ They are all together serving the community, our own Santa Maria community. I love seeing it; it is very cool.”

Bronkowski praised the community for stepping up.

“What happens when we bring the community together and we serve together, the individuals that feel like they are unloved, they are unworthy realize that there are people that care, that they really are valued members of our society,” he said.

The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County supplied the turkey for Monday’s meal.

“They provided 1,200 pounds of turkey,” Bronkowski said. “Coca-Cola donated all the soda. Starbucks donated all the coffee.”

Other donations were submitted to the Rescue Mission or were made at its Central Coast Super Thrift Store in Santa Maria.