DURHAM, NC — As the chill of late November blankets Durham, an enduring warmth radiates from the heart of the city: the Durham Rescue Mission. This year marks the 50th anniversary of their Thanksgiving celebration, a beacon of hope for anyone in the community seeking food, fellowship, or simply a place to belong on the holiday.
In the pre-dawn hours, volunteers worked tirelessly outside the mission, ensuring that 200 turkeys would be perfectly cooked for the feast. Inside, a flurry of activity saw 800 “sacks of hope” packed with snacks, water, and hand warmers—lifelines for those braving the streets in frigid weather.
Rob Tart, the mission’s chief, spoke of their unwavering commitment to caring for the city’s most vulnerable.
“With the cold weather this weekend, we want to make sure homeless people are prepared,” said Tart. “We want to go out and warn people on the streets, look, the weather is bad, here’s a hand warmer, here’s a bottle of water, and oh, here’s the Durham Rescue Mission if you need to get out of the weather.”
A Lesson in Empathy
For volunteers like Sara Xander, the event was an opportunity to instill values of compassion and service in her children.
“To make sure that we see outside of ourselves and we want them to see outside of themselves,” Xander explained, “to see the world going on around them, that it’s not just what we do at home—there are other people who face different things in life during the holidays.”
Her daughters joined dozens of volunteers who braved the cold, not just to serve food, but to extend kindness and connection to those in need.
More Than Just a Meal
The Rescue Mission’s efforts extend far beyond the hundreds expected to attend the feast. Volunteers will deliver 1,000 meals to people unable to leave their homes, ensuring that the holiday reaches even those isolated by disability or illness.
“The problem is that there are so many lonely people in the world,” Tart reflected. “People with disabilities at home don’t have a lot of visitors, and when our volunteers come to visit them, boy, I mean, it makes them feel grateful.”
A Celebration of Community
The Thanksgiving celebration, which begins at noon, offers more than just food. Guests can enjoy games, prize raffles, and $50 gift cards to the Durham Rescue Mission stores, creating a festive atmosphere that speaks to the mission’s deep commitment to uplifting the community.
In a world often defined by division and hardship, the Durham Rescue Mission’s Thanksgiving tradition stands as a reminder of the power of unity, generosity, and hope. For 50 years, they’ve turned a simple meal into a lifeline, proving that, in Durham, no one has to face the holidays alone.
Doors open at 11 a.m., but the impact of this celebration will be felt far beyond the confines of the mission—extending to homes, hearts, and lives throughout the city.
For more inspiring stories and updates on community initiatives, stay tuned to the Bull City Citizen.
