The motto of the Bakersfield Rescue Mission is “love in action”. That is our goal each and every day. We strive to show “love in action” to each guest that walks thru our doors. The homeless guests we serve have felt devalued and unwanted. We want to show them that they are loved and cared for. We feel it is especially important for us to demonstrate God’s love on Valentine’s Day. We prepare a special meal and pass out Valentines from the community with encouraging messages on them. This year we also had a special gift for our guests. We received a large donation from Wal-Mart which allowed us to purchase much needed socks and underwear for the 200 plus men we serve in our Homeless Intervention Services Center.

While socks and underwear may seem like an unusual gift for Valentine’s Day, it was the highlight of our Valentine’s Day dinner. These much needed items are highly valued by our guests. Knowing they have new socks and underwear to put on after their shower, is a gift they do not take for granted. We would like to thank the East Hills Wal-Mart for making our Valentine’s Day so special! We also appreciate all the members of the community for their encouraging messages to our guests. You made them feel loved.