Great Christmas celebrations are coming!

On Thursday, Dec. 16, the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds will be full of Christmas joy. The annual Great Christmas Toy Drive-thru Giveaway will be underway.

Like 2020, it will be a drive-thru event. This year we will have Santa and his elves do an interactive Tweet with the Children. Our favorite band, Tuba Force, will be playing Christmas songs because we believe that everyone should experience nine tubas playing songs that celebrate our Savior’s birth!

While our neighbors and friends—big and little—remain in their cars to receive their gifts from a curated collection, they should tune into our FM radio station that includes Christmas songs, instructions for the day, what to do to enter the very special bike and scooter raffle and, most importantly, a message of Christmas Hope from Pastor Dane Davis.

In addition to receiving gifts, our guests will also be offered food boxes and fun giveaways from our local first responders. We hold this event in partnership with High Desert Second Chance who holds a simultaneous event in Hesperia. Because of this ability to expand unduplicated outreach, we have been able to increase donations, as we have demonstrated good stewardship to our funding partners. In 2020 we were able to assist over 3,000 families in this manner, plus an additional 500 families by holding our events with partner agencies like the Desert Mountain Children’s Center, the County of San Bernardino Superintendent of Schools, the Victor Valley Transit Authority, and so many other generous partners.

On Wednesday, Dec. 22, the Mission’s Mobile Food Truck will be in full service, providing meals for our homeless neighbors and friends. Three neighbor agencies serve in this endeavor with us: The Lord’s Table, Family Assistance Program and House of Worship Church and ourselves.

Because of this time of rest and refreshment, The Sheriff’s HOPE Team, San Bernardino County Housing HOST Team, SB County Department of Mental Health InROADS Team and the Borrego Springs Mobile Health Bus via Providence St. Mary’s Hospital create relationships with our guests and offers them pathways to housing and health. Mike Meyer, our Outreach Coordinator, has made several connections that have led to guests choosing to enter our Life Recovery Program. The Mission continues to make an impact, in Jesus’ name, and it is because of you. Jesus’ came to save the world one life at a time – we follow His lead.