Christmas is now just nine days away but a special holiday meal with all the trimmings was served Friday to folks who might otherwise go without.
Susan Reagan is the director of food services for all five Boise Rescue Mission facilities in the Treasure Valley.
She knows what her guests for lunch at the rescue mission's Christmas banquet are going through.
"I came to the mission eight years ago homeless," she explains.
Trying to get back on her feet, at the time, Reagan gave back by pitching in at the shelter's kitchen. Little did she know her willingness to help others in need would eventually pay off.
"I just went ahead and kept on volunteering and they called me in the office about a month later and said, 'We believe the Lord brought you to us. And, that we needed you and you needed us,'" Reagan says.
Reagan worked her way up the food chain and couldn't be happier with where she's at in life today.
Along with the meal for the banquet that was made from scratch, food boxes were distributed and Christmas presents were handed out.
"It feels so good to help someone and they are so inspired and so dazzled with what they get," says Jean Lockhart, chief operating officer for the Boise Rescue Mission. "So, they're so grateful and we are too."
The rescue mission's Christmas banquet will be held Saturday, Dec. 17 at the College Church of the Nazarene located at 504 E. Dewey Ave. from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. But, the holiday spirit doesn't end there.
"Christmas morning at the rescue mission is always a great time," says Rev. Bill Roscoe, chief executive officer for the Boise Rescue Mission. "Everyone staying there is going to get a gift, there will be another turkey lunch for Christmas Day."
